Are youth voters voting democratic?

CINCINNATI - It's one of the trends leaders in both parties will be dissecting before the next presidential campaign; more young people are voting and they're voting democratic.

President Obama gained support from the youth, overwhelmingly supporting him 60 to 36 percent. Their share of electorate grew to 19 percent, up a percent from 2008.

While getting youth to the polls used to be difficult, that's no longer the case.

University of Cincinnati students Dan Traicoff and Nate Shelton believe young people are becoming more aware of how politics affects them. Traicoff is the president of the University of Cincinnati College Democrats. Shelton is president of the University of Cincinnati College Republicans.

"When we had senate candidates across the nation talking about legitimate rape and how our body can shut down pregnancy if it chooses too, those kinds of things spark interest in students," Traicoff said.

"A lot of younger voters are really focused on social issues and they agree with the Democrats more on that," Shelton said. "I believe a lot of them would sign on the fiscal side if they looked into it more."

That is an argument republicans have been having a lot of trouble making with younger voters as they overwhelmingly supported President Obama. His issues were their issues.

"By doubling the amount of funding for Pell grants, increasing our age to be on our parents health insurance until we're 26," Traicoff said.

"They're having a tough time getting through college," political science professor at Xavier University Gene Beaupre said. "Some people wonder why students will be involved when they're not out in economy, but they are."

For decades, there have been drives to get more young people to vote. However, only these last two presidential elections have been a major difference in turning out voters.

"I see students go down in groups as to early vote as a kind of a social event as much as anything else," Beaupre said.

One other thing bring the under 30 set out is social media. Whether it is Facebook or all the tweets about politics, young people are now more involved politically.