Young people have the lowest voter turnout of any population group. The conclusions of some who gathered to watch the last presidential debate could explain why. PNS correspondent Raj Jayadev is the Silicon Valley/Digital Divide editor for YO! Youth Outlook, a monthly newspaper by and about Bay Area youth published by Pacific News Service.

Gathered in a garage in California's Silicon Valley, a group of young people watched the last presidential debate with interest. Everyone took sides, but felt that both candidates ignored their particular concerns.

Victor Saldana (20):

"I never liked George Bush, but he spoke to me last night.

"Nobody in the crowd really represented me -- there was no young working Chicano to ask my questions, but George gave me time nonetheless.

"I was most feeling him when he was talking to the seniors about medical plans and their social security -- I know I'm feeling something when I'm not yelling back to the TV, and I was quiet during those parts.

"George Bush saying we can invest some of the money ourselves had me at the edge of my seat. The reason is that, right now, I am my parents' social security and retirement plan. We receive SSI, so I know how unreliable those checks are. I also know that I can do more with the money if given the opportunity -- Bush got this, Gore didn't.

"I wish I could go to school, and affirmative action could be my issue, but I have to help my parents. I have been working, giving to my parents, and saving since I was 14. I started selling candy door to door, then worked in convenience stores, and eventually high-tech assembly work.

"The bottom line is that I believe in myself a lot more then the government when it comes to my money. But only when it comes to money--when Al and George agreed on smaller government what did they mean? When Gore talked about "streamlining," cutting government workers, I got chills. I want some of those government workers -- OSHA, for example, is a friend I want to keep.

"The one thing both men agree on -- less government--makes it less safe for me at work.

"By the end of the debate, even though I was more for Bush than I would admit, reality kinda sunk in. Bush gets points when he says 'young workers,' but he doesn't get my vote because he's only accidentally talking about me."

Edward Neito (22):

"The final debate looked like the Oprah Winfrey show. When Al Gore got in Bush's face, I was hoping it was gonna become the Jerry Springer show.

"Watching the debates was fun. They talked a lot about youth, but not in the way I was hoping for. Once again Gore and Bush refused to talk about people with physical and mental disabilities. I am used to this -- I've learned to just read into what George and Al say and imagine what it will mean for the disabled.

"Gore's plan of affordable health insurance for all was really cool, especially for the disabled -- when you are disabled, you need insurance more than those who are not disabled.

"I was Gore all the way, but he lost me when the debate moved on to education and affirmative action.

"Bush and Gore said all this stuff about how education was their priority, but nothing about improving special education! When I was in school, all they taught special ed students was not to have any expectations for themselves. At community college they lumped all physically disabled students and those with learning disabilities together like sardines!

"Their education plans will be especially hard on students with learning disabilities. Gore says he will tear down failing schools and Bush says he will allow you to go to another school. But going to a new school means you getting used to new spaces, other kids, the right bus. When you are disabled it sometimes takes a long time to adjust to these things, if you do at all.

"Gore's talk on affirmative action almost won me back, but then I realized he still wasn't talking about me. He talked about discrimination against women and minorities, but not the disabled. It is hard to get a job when people know you are disabled and the jobs pay less. The fact that we were left out of the debate makes it obvious that the disabled community faces discrimination."

Elizabeth Gonzales (20):

"Gore won the debate. He tried harder. I was waiting for someone to talk about the issue of my generation, and Gore eventually did -- kind of.

"I have always had a dream to own a house, but with prices skyrocketing now, I just hope I won't be homeless, so I wanted to hear which candidate would help me eventually buy a house. Neither candidate brought up the issue, nor did the audience, none of whom were Asian or Latina!

"All in all I think Al Gore was more sympathetic to my hope.

"The government matching savings plan Al talked about won't do much for people in my community. Just next door to me in San Jose, a simple two-bedroom home goes for close to $300,000. Plus, when you are living paycheck to paycheck, who can afford to save?

"Truthfully, what made Al Gore the better a candidate for me was not his plans, it's what he didn't say. Bush seemed much more interested in technology building. To me, that means more dot-com-ers, which means less affordable housing. So my odds of one day getting a house in San Jose are best with Al Gore."

Shana White (19):

"Al Gore caught my ear saying he will fight for the middle class and the working class.

"But I'm not sure where families like mine fit in all that. My mother works as a domestic house cleaner and does not earn a lot of money -- and it all goes to paying the mortgage and other bills.

"My stepfather, on the other hand, makes a lot of money doing drywall. The question he always has in the back of his head, though, is, 'How long will this job last?'

"Our standing goes up and down based on if our family is working or not. Because jobs are not very secure, we may be a different 'class' depending on what day it is.