EL PASO, Texas -- Franklin High School student Louise Torres has waited her whole life for the chance to cast her ballot -- but sadly, she's in the minority. In 2004, Americans between 18 and 24 voted at a lower rate than any other age group, with only 42 percent heading to the polls.

"I think it's really important to vote, because it gives us the choice to make what kind of president we have, what kind of nation we want," Torres said.

And so, this election season, programs like vote18.org are targeting young voters like never before.

"What we show them is how the value of their vote is their voice, and through the allocation of resources from candidates who need their vote to get re-elected, they will have a say in their community," vote18.org cofounder Marco Ceglie said.

Also, hundreds of students registered to vote Wednesday at El Paso Community College through the Voter Education Project.

"We're just working to register, educate and mobilize voters in El Paso County," Voter Education Project director Paul De La Pena said.