Young voter group: 'They're just not into it'

— -- Peati Barabas, 20, from West Valley City, Utah, says she hasn't been giving a lot of thought to the first presidential election in which she'll be eligible to vote, though she's paying "somewhat" more attention now that Election Day is getting closer.

What issues are most important to her? She turns from the phone and quickly confers with friends who happen to be with her. "What do I care most about this election?" she repeats. "Like the economy and stuff, the recession that's going on. Just overall everything. And health care."

Barabas is a member of the voters' group dubbed "tuned out," young people who are the least likely to be registered to vote or to have given the election a lot of thought.

They are the youngest group in the four categories of those 18 to 29 years old; more than two-thirds of them are under 24. Their ranks include the highest percentage of students and the lowest percentage of those with jobs. Barabas, who graduated from high school in 2006, sells cosmetics over the phone.

Many in this group say their friends influence their political views; eight in 10 say friends have had a great deal or a moderate amount of influence on them. Religious leaders, political commentators, teachers and parents also influence their views.

Even celebrities are cited as an influence by 31%, more than double that in any other group.

Barabas, who plans to vote, says John McCain is "OK, because he's been in office" for a long time, but she's "pretty positive" she'll support Barack Obama. She trusts him to keep his word.

"I honestly just say try something new, and maybe Obama, he would end the Bush administration," she says. "I think if McCain was to be president, he would continue that."