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Madison Politiscope: Will Madison college students vote in the spring election?

Students can have a strong impact in politics. Nationally, they were a major part of the coalition that carried Barack Obama to victory over Hillary Clinton and later John McCain in 2008. And many Democrats in the state Legislature with districts near college campuses had students to thank for their victories in 2006, when young people turned out in droves to oppose the state constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, which ultimately passed. But in local politics, unless there is a hotly contested mayoral race or massive protests at the Capitol, students are hardly a blip on the radar. In fact, turnout in the County Board election for the student-dominated 5th District seat has steadily declined in recent years.