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Young Voters Turned The Tide For Brown's Prop 30

SACRAMENTO (AP) — Gov. Jerry Brown secured a convincing win for his tax initiative on last week's ballot, thanks partly to voters who might not seem like a natural constituency for the 74-year-old, lifelong politician — young voters.

Those under 30 helped the Democratic governor win relatively easy passage for Proposition 30, raising the statewide sales tax and income taxes on high earners.

College students and the parents of school-age children had the most at stake, with $6 billion in cuts to schools and higher education threatened if it failed.

Exit polls conducted for The Associated Press and television networks showed 28 percent of Proposition 30 voters were between 18 and 29. They supported Brown's initiative by two-thirds.

Young voters registered to vote online and rallied for the initiative on social networking sites.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.)

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