Seniors play powerful role in today's elections

The Christian Science Monitor: "Seniors and baby boomers are more engaged in the election and more excited about voting than any preelection polling has found since 1994, according to the Pew Research Center. While it was considered to be youth that ushered in the Obama revolution, it is the older generation that is wielding more power now. … Tuesday's election is the starting point of a phenomenon that will really accelerate from January 2011 through 2030, when Boomers will turn 65 at the rate of one every ten seconds for nearly two straight decades. According to pollster Scott Rasmussen, those 65 and older account for about 12.5 percent of eligible voters, but could reach close to 30 percent of voters on Tuesday" (Wood, 11/1).

U.S. News & World Report: "Historically, seniors have taken their election voting seriously. … AARP has developed a powerful interactive voting guide. All you have to do is enter your address and you will see a list of the candidates who will be on your ballot, and their positions on several issues that AARP considers key for the senior community." The guide highlights five issues for U.S. House and Senate races including Social Security solvency, deficit reduction and Social Security, Medicare fraud, access to physicians for Medicare beneficiaries and candidates' plans to increase employment and economic security (Moeller, 11/1).

Related, earlier KHN story: Some Hill Races Could Hinge On Seniors' Anger Over Medicare (Werber Serafini, 10/26)