Amanda Houle, a 20-year-old associate director of Youth04, said she took this semester off from college to get involved with voting campaigns.

"I became involved with Youth04 because it encourages engagement and tells politicians to look at young voters as a constituency," Houle said.

Houle and Corey Bindler, also an associate director of the Washington, D.C. office, oversee the interns, organize media work and delegate work to the rest of the college-aged staff.

But no matter the age of those involved, Houle said she thinks Youth04 and other such organizations are making a huge difference in this year's election.

"Just this week, I met with the leader of youth development for the Bush campaign. And he was talking about the drastic changes that voter engagement has made on elections this year," she said.

Bindler said the national movement is chapter-based and is looking to expand Youth04 to Happy Valley and other campuses across the country this year.

She said the road to beginning a chapter in State College is quite simple and hopes to see numbers increasing from the 40 chapters to 75 or 100 this year.

"We've been trying to get out the effort through e-mail to our target campuses and wait for responses from those interested," Bindler said.

Anyone can contact Youth04 by e-mail at volunteer@youth04.org, thus taking the first step to start up a chapter at their school.

Even if an official chapter isn't found on campus, there are still other ways to be heard by politicians.

"All the person really needs is two or three other people interested on their campus and some support from local restaurants or cafés that want to become sponsors of discussions," she added. "Maybe they can offer discounts to students who want to come in and talk about politics together."

All those involved -- companies and students -- can say they are apart of Youth04 through the power of discussion.

Another way is through a moving petition, Bindler said.

"Just get people to sign a petition saying, 'As a young person voting, we would be more likely to vote if a politician would address us and our concerns specifically in their speeches,' " she said.

After some ground and e-mail efforts and thousands of people signing a petition, politicians have to pay attention, Bindler added.

Houle added that if more students actively participate, the nation could see politicians viewing the youth as more valuable voters, not just as apathetic.

"Students haven't always put much effort into [elections]. Now, we can see signs with 'Students for Bush,' or 'Students for Kerry.' They are really getting into the campaign," she added.

The mission statement for Youth04, Houle said, is what the organization is "all about."

"A society that does not pay attention to its young people is dust to its future," she said.

Students can log onto Youth04.org for more information on the organization.

Youth04.org