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Content: The 2008 election was a watershed event in American politics. With a campaign focused on bringing hope to the American people and change to American politics, Barack Obama became the first African American elected president of the United States. A groundswell of popular support for this Democratic candidate had led media and pundits to expect record levels of voter turnout on election day in 2008, but in the end, the turnout mirrored that of the 2004 election cycle. Approximately 131 million Americans, or 64 percent of all registered voters, participated in the presidential election. However, the voting public in 2008 looked significantly different from the voting public in 2004. The candidacy of Barack Obama managed to energize groups of voters who might not have participated otherwise. --Young adults (individuals between 18 and 24 years of age) went to the polls in greater numbers than ever before. --Among these young voters, African Americans showed the greatest boost in turnout—an increase of 8 percent over 2004 election turnout rates. --Overall, the voting rates for ethnic minorities increased by about 4 percent in the 2008 election. If you have ever voted in an election, signed a petition, participated in an interest-group activity, or sent an email to a government official, then you have engaged in political participation.