Election 2008 is about change. The candidates have said it, the media have reported it, and the voters have embraced it. We want change, and that's what we are getting. The question remains, what is that change, whom does it affect, and how will it impact the future?

Some political pundits reason that change has come from the lack of a clear front-running candidate. Others believe it is the broad debate lacking a central theme such as war or taxes. Some even say it stems from the way news outlets fail to accurately gauge the whims of common voters. All of the latter may be rare contributors, but they are not at the heart of this change election.

It is the Internet that has once again changed this election, and young voters are the champions of the effort.

Have you visited your presidential candidate's Facebook or Myspace page? Have you watched a debate on YouTube? Have you blogged about your opinion only to be rebuked by a peer you have never even met? Many of you will say no, but check with your kids, because they will probably say yes.

For the first time in many of our lives, we have not only been targeted by the presidential campaigns, but spoken to intelligently in a language that we understand. Blogs, e-mails and viral media have reached into our apartments to educate us about issues that we find relevant in our lives. We've not only been taught what the candidates believe, but been empowered to make a decision based on our individual beliefs. We are no longer victims of the mob mentality, but opinion-makers in our own realm.

It is easy to characterize this change as just another fad like "Rock the Vote," but it's not. The change we see today is radically different from those of the past because it is crossing over generational barriers. Communication tools such as blogs and streaming video have pushed beyond the walls of college dorm rooms and into the family office. Methods of communicating to youth have not only caught on with average America, but are becoming a standard method of civic engagement.

For instance, the Nov. 28 Republican presidential debate was seen live, exclusively on the Internet Web site YouTube. In the past, YouTube was a novelty used to see the latest home movie blunder, but on that night, it was home of a major presidential contest. Recognizing the value of young voters to their campaign, every major candidate attended. By the end of the night, a record 4.4 million people viewed the debate, which was composed of 23 video questions submitted by voters.

Another example can be seen on the now famous Myspace. Former Gov. Mitt Romney has more than 35,000 "friends," former Gov. Huckabee has just over 32,000 "friends." Each of these voters has gone out of his way to find the candidate's Myspace page and added them to their network. Once added, young voters can be a part of the virtual campaign by posting encouraging comments, downloading the last issue papers and creating their own campaign experience.

And of course you have individual candidate Web sites. These instruments of modern technology do everything from soliciting contributions, replaying campaign advertisements and speeches, e-mailing real-time information to supporters and best of all, connecting voters to their candidate in a brand new way.

Closer to home, the San Diego Young Republicans utilize Facebook and e-mail blasts to communicate with our membership about upcoming voter walks, candidate debates and other political functions. We also regularly update our organization's Web site, which allows people to become a member via the Internet, learn about future events and get in touch with campaigns on which they wish to volunteer their time.

So what effect will this changing wave of technology have on the future of presidential politics? The primary impact is the emergence of a new generation of voters who are straying from traditional norms. We can no longer be lumped into a bloc vote because MTV told us to. We have emerged as independent thinkers and educated voters.

A new generation of Young Republicans has come of age. We are informed, we are adept, we want to affect change and presidential politics are embracing us. Although it may be only one of the many changes we see in this election, this transformation in how candidates reach out and communicate with us will be one of its lasting legacies. Issues are always debated, campaigns are always hard-fought, but revolutionizing the way a generation participates is a legacy of change that will endure.

  Avey is president of San Diego Young Republicans (www.SDyoungrepublicans.com). He works in governmental affairs for a local firm.