RALEIGH -- Twenty-five percent of the new registered voters in North Carolina are younger than 22, and a growing number don't want to be labeled Republican or Democrat. They're registering as unaffiliated.

"From 2002 to present, approximately 25.7 percent of all new registrations that we were looking at were from 18 to 22 years of age," pointed out Gary Bartlett, director of the State Board of Elections. "As you get closer to 2006, you will see that among that age group the [unaffiliated voters] were more than registered Democrats or Republicans.”

The power of young voters is not lost on politicians. This week alone, Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama visited North Carolina Central University for a public fundraiser, and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi addressed a crowd at Meredith College in Raleigh.

"I think North Carolina is starting to play a much bigger role on the political field, nationally, and I think that's going to help youth get more involved," said Jonathan Bandy, who works with Wake County Young Republicans.

"I think what we're looking for is something that causes us or asks us to become part of something bigger than ourselves," said Zack Hawkins, president of Young Democrats of North Carolina. "We feel that way when national leaders and speakers come in."

Both believe that North Carolina's new one-stop voting is another concession to the power of young voters.

"We will see this year -- especially in 2008 -- that the one-stop voting will make the biggest difference," Hawkins added.

"One-stop and early voting is a tremendous system to encourage youth and even older people to come out and vote," Bandy said.

Both agree that getting people to vote – no matter what their age – is key.

Though more and more young people are registering as new voters, they're still a small percentage of all the voters in our state. Less than 15 percent of people between the ages of 18 and 25 are registered.