Young people attentive early in election, polls shows

WASHINGTON - As the daughter of apolitical parents, Brittany Pratt wasn't bitten by the political bug until she started classes last year at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. Then, like an increasing number of young voters, the 19-year-old caught an election fever that left her fired up to cast a ballot for the first time.

"I'm really excited to see how the Texas primaries turn out," said Pratt, a Democrat. "I've been getting into politics so much more than I ever have."