Many First Time Voters Will Use Debate to Help Them Decide

"First time to vote, first time to register, first time for everything so it's kind of exciting," said Raelee Taylor, a Texas Tech junior.

Taylor is one of many students who will get their first chance to vote this November. Tonight at Texas Tech, some of those students will be tuning in to the presidential debate to help make their decision.

"Yeah I am going to watch the debate. I am really interested in the stuff that they are going to be talking about tonight. Especially the education part," said Erica Banks, also a junior at Texas Tech.

"I'm really hoping that they do start talking about the real issues and get down to what is really important, but I'm not particularly expecting that this early," said Brian Allred, a member of Texas Tech's chapter of the Young Conservatives of Texas.

"I've watched a couple of these before so I kind of know what to expect, but I'm going into it with an open mind to see what they say," said Taylor.

A recent Gallup poll shows a 20% drop in young people who plan to vote in this election compared to 2008. Student organizations at Tech are trying to fight that trend with voter registration drives.

"Today if it gives you any indication, I had to go back to Lubbock's election office. I want to say right now about 80, maybe more by the end of the day," said Jeramy Kitchen, the Executive Director of the Young Conservatives of Texas, Texas Tech chapter.

Allred said,"We're trying to get as many people registered to vote for this upcoming election as possible."

The student groups we spoke to today said they have registered well over 300 voters just this week. They say they will be out here til voter registration deadline October 9^th.

One Student Democrat says getting young people to vote is important if they want politicians to tackle issues important to them.

Ricky Neville, the historian for Texas Student Democrats said, "Politicians will start listening to students when they are the ones voting for them."