Rock the Vote

Thomas Goldstein and Thomas Bates, Executive Director of the Washington Bus and Vice President for Civic Engagement at Rock the Vote respectively, penned an op-ed published in today's Seattle Times. Goldstein and Bates took aim at the idea that youth's "low" turnout in midterm elections relative to older age groups ultimately means a smaller impact on the results.

It isn't exactly news that young people tend to vote at lower rates than older voters. The more interesting story is that even if young people turn out at lower rates, they can dramatically affect the election landscape and outcomes. That happened most visibly in the 2008 presidential election, but also in certain nonpresidential elections closer to home.

The approval of Referendum 71, the election of a young mayor in Tacoma, and two victorious young City Council candidates in Spokane are all evidence of the efficacy of targeting young voters. Moreover, the highest turnout in the state in 2009 was in the 43rd Legislative District, which has the greatest concentration of young voters.

Even with mounting evidence, too many campaigns write off young voters, and this tired habit has made the prophecy of low turnout a self-fulfilling one. It almost reads as a new definition of madness: Time and time again, campaigns don't invest time and resources into young people, and then are surprised when they don't mail in their ballots.

[...]

Luckily, we're doing something about it. Forward-looking organizations and campaigns have tested methods to engage young people and have committed resources to make them reliable voters. And we're seeing results: For the past three major election cycles — yes, even pre-Obama — the turnout of young people has steadily increased.

We know what works: Make sure young people are registered to vote, give them relevant information in an engaging way, and run campaigns that connect with their values.

The point both are making is that, blessed with size, the effect of even a subtle increase in the Millennial voting rate can be worth a few points in various midterm elections -- enough to tip those races in different directions.

As we move forward into the meat of the 21st Century, these younger people, increasingly becoming adults, are going to need to be pursued in a different way than past voters. This calls for aggressive engagement, complete with the "relevant information" Goldstein and Gates mention above, as well as managing campaigns that reflect youth's values.

FutureMajority is part of the Y.I. Want Change coalition. Congratulations to the Y.I. organizers for a successful event! - Karlo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Contacts: Rebecca Abou-Chedid (Young Invincibles): media@younginvincibles.org, 202-256-4096
Chrissy Faessen (Rock the Vote): chrissy@rockthevote.com, 202-368-1706

Young Americans continue push for health care reform on Hill, hail inclusion of key provision in House bill

Coalition of over 20 youth organizations announce major policy victory, release health care policy agenda, and spend day lobbying key Senators and Representatives in Washington, DC

Washington, DC – Young Americans from 30 states are on Capitol Hill today to continue the push for comprehensive health care reform. Y.I. Want Change, a national coalition of over 20 youth organizations representing millions of young Americans, organized the lobby day. In addition to bringing young people to the Hill today, the Y.I. Want Change coalition released its policy agenda and announced with Speaker Pelosi and Representatives Van Hollen and Dahlkemper a major policy victory for young people that will be included in the final House bill: a provision allowing young Americans to stay on their parents’ insurance through the age of 26.

“Speaker Pelosi and Representatives Dahlkemper and Van Hollen’s leadership on this key provision – and other important pieces like the public option and strong anti-discrimination language – is a testament to the House’s commitment to provide health care coverage that is affordable, competitive, continuous, comprehensive and fair for young Americans,” said Heather Smith, President of Rock the Vote. “We are going to take the momentum from this day and work with the House and Senate to ensure the remainder of our policy priorities are incorporated into the final legislation.”

“Young people have fought all summer to have our voices heard in this debate, and Congress is listening,” said Erica Williams, Deputy Director of Campus Progress. “The health care crisis is young America’s crisis. Affordability, not invincibility, is the reason young people don’t have health insurance, and we are committed to making quality health care affordable for young Americans.”

In addition to the provision allowing young adults to stay on their parents’ insurance through the age of 26, the Y.I. Want Change coalition is pushing six other policy priorities as part of the Y.I. Care Agenda released today (full details available at www.yiwantchange.org):

o Increasing premium support for low-income Americans and limiting out-of-pocket expenses to ensure that health insurance is affordable;
o Including a public option to provide greater choice for young Americans;
o Ensuring that any “young invincible” plan covers preventative and chronic care and limits out-of-pocket expenses;
o Including funding to provide education and workforce training to young Americans to assist in the transition;
o Ensuring affordable access to health insurance exchanges for all Americans; and
o Ending discrimination in the provision of health insurance.

“Health care reform that is good for young Americans is good for all Americans. That is why these policy priorities must become an integral part of the final legislative package,” said Ari Matusiak, co-founder of Young Invincibles. “The time of leaving people uninsured, unprotected and insecure has passed. The coalition we have convened is the clearest indication yet that health care is an issue all Americans care about. We’re here to tell Washington that it has to act.”

For more information and resources, including a detailed analysis of the Y.I. Want Change policy priorities, please visit www.yiwantchange.org. To speak to coalition spokespeople please contact Rebecca Abou-Chedid at media@younginvincibles.org / 202-256-4096 or Chrissy Faessen at chrissy@rockthevote.com / 202-368-1706.

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Y.I. Want Change is a national coalition of more than 20 youth organizations and their affiliates, including Advocates for Youth, Black Youth Vote, Bus Federation, Campus Camp Wellstone, Campus Progress, Center for Community Change, Choice USA, College Democrats of America, Daily Get Up, Energy Action Coalition, 80 Million Strong, Forward Montana, Future Majority, Generation WE, Generational Alliance, NAACP Youth and College Division, Rock the Vote, Roosevelt Institution, Student PIRGs, Young Democrats of America, Young Invincibles, and Young People First. For additional information please visit www.yiwantchange.org.

A youth organization has finally got involved in pushing young people's hope for health care reform. Rock the Vote is starting with a

"30 second television spot featuring Scrubs stars Zach Braff and Donald Faison encouraging young Americans to show they care and “demand health care now” by visiting www.rockthevote.com or texting the keyword “HEALTH” to RTVOTE (788683). The ad uses the actors’ roles as “fake doctors” to educate young people about health care reform and demand that “the suits in Washington cover more than just their own asses.”

Braff and Faison’s PSA reinforces to young Americans’ that they have the most to gain – or lose – in health care reform. Americans between the ages of 19 and 29 have the highest uninsured rate of any age group. Nearly 1 in 3 is uninsured. In addition, half of uninsured 19- to 29-year olds work full time, but aren’t covered through their jobs and can’t afford health care because of low wages.

Faison believes that its important Washington listen to young people beyond trying to get themselves elected. Aside from a few select members, he's absolutely correct.

"According to a recent Survey USA poll, 91% of young people ages 18-34 are paying attention to the health care debate and are most supportive of the public option (overall 58% of American say it is “extremely important,” but among 18 to 24 year olds that jumps to 68 percent and 65 percent for 25 to 29 year olds)."

I hope the campaign isn't too late in the game to have a meaningful impact. After a summer filled with teaparty people being the loudest voice it would be great if a similarly loud advocate group could work through the process to connect on a more rational level with elected officials.

• The Kent County GOP has gotten hip to Drinking Liberally and is using a similar model to engage local youth.
• Here's a new iPhone app that will let you track the voting records of elected officials.
• danah boyd answers all the questions you had about teens and social media use.
• Campus Progress has video from their latest panel on Millennial Politics.
• Rock the Vote looks at how credit cards are keeping young people down.
• Roll Call discusses how the passage of Civil Rights was the beginning of the end for the GOP.
• Peter Levine critiques the White House Office of Public Engagement.
• Do Young Folks Need Celebrities To Tell Them How To Vote?

Lots of stuff today hitting on the relationship between technology and democracy. Enjoy!

• Sam Stein details the rise of thirteen year old Jonathan Krohn, the latest excuse for the GOP to not have to do anything to court the youth vote. Check him out here.
• Micah Sifry's post on the complexity of user rights on Facebook.
• At tech President, Nancy Scola examines the governing tension inherent in Facebook's relationship with its users and vice versa.
• Adam Green argues that Facebook, in order to become the ultimate organizing tool, needs to eliminate a few self-imposed barriers first. One of those involves the group mass-email policy.
• More Micah: Sifry examines the larger, philosophical questions regarding the 'net's impact on democracy.
• "Youthanized" is a documentary short from Project Youthanize that examines something which we discuss on this blog quite frequently -- the transition from youth-led, street protest-based activism in the 1960s to youth-led, digitally-inspired activism today.
• Glenn Hurowitz's discussion of the Powershift Conference, focusing on one member of a group of young climate activists that Glenn Beck describes as "Hitler youth," Meg Imholt.
• Rock the Vote announces the premiere of Rock the Vote Radio -- a weekly 30 minute, roundtable discussion centered on politics and current affairs, with a rotating panel of young adults. Check it out!
• More testimony to the "parasitic nature" of student loans.
• Rev. Lennox Yearwood sounds a call for action among America's youth, given the increased importance in governance over elections. I wish Tom Friedman sounded more like this.
• Where is Obama's CTO? A Politico article asks the question and searches for the answer.
• Mayor Daley of Chicago has a YouTube channel.

Here's video of a panel hosted by Campus Progress asking the question, "Are young people political game changers?" The panel features Kat Barr, Political Outreach Director of Rock the Vote, Amanda Carpenter, with Townhall.com, Rev. Lennox Yearwood from the Hip Hop Caucus, and David Madland, Director of the American Worker Project, Center for American Progress. It's moderated by Erica Williams of Campus Progress.

I'm about to get in the car to head down to Baltimore. I'm staying with my aunt and taking the metro into DC tomorrow for the inauguration and then again at night for the official youth ball. I plan on taking tons of pictures at both events. I'll try to upload them and blog about the experience during the afternoon when I have some down time. For those at home, the youth ball will be broadcast on MTV at 10pm Eastern. In the meantime, here's some interesting reads and updates on things we've blogged about previously:

• The biggest news is that OFA 2.0 officially launched as Organizing for America - a reimagination of the Obama political operation inside the DNC. I share Micah Sifry's take on it thus far. Here's the announcement from the President Elect himself:

• Speaking of organizing for America, today's is the national day of service planned by the Obama campaign. Follow along or find an opportunity in your area at the USA Service website. Also do check out Peter Levine's blog post about today's volunteer activities.
• Future Majority got a shout-out in the latest youth/constituent newsletter from Speaker Pelosi's office. You can sign up for those emails here.
• Campus Progress lists 6 things the incoming Obama administration must do to make headway on the issues that matter to young voters.
• Rock the Vote polled its membership to determine the direction of the organization in 2009. Preliminary results are here, and they tend to favor policy work aimed at solving the economic crisis.
• Eric Greenberg has a nice piece at the Huffington Post explaining the importance of young voters in the 2008 campaign.
• The New York Times has a nice photo essay of Obama's 50 closest advisors. There are three Millennials in the group. Check it out.
• On the other side of the aisle, the Houston Chronicle interviews Young Republican Chairman Jessica Colon and asks her how the Republicans can recapture the youth vote.
• Finally, in light of tomorrow's events, I think we can all recognize and celebrate this as an especially significant time to celebrate Martin Luther King Day:

I have spent a lot of time in the mass e-mail business, and one of the first things you learn is that you need to respect your list or face unsubscribes and/or negative word of mouth.

Two examples of potentially list-thinning practices have recently come to my attention: one from MoveOn.org and another from Rock the Vote.

Here is one of the e-mails from Rock the Vote (click to enlarge):

This e-mail was mentioned to me by a couple of people about being extremely spammy and way off the purpose of the list. Furthermore, it was the second Credo mobile sales pitch e-mail from Rock the Vote in a short span of time.

People sign up to an organization's email list to receive information about what the organization is doing, not to get sales pitches that resemble every other spam e-mail that hit their inbox that day. The first time people may have ignored it, the second time people probably figure it's a trend that will continue and unsubscribe.

The second example is from MoveOn, and it is when people start to get more e-mails than they bargained for. I caught a Twitter exchange recently that was discussing the recent flurry.

I understand that part of the problem is that MoveOn members can create events and then invite members in their area, which can lead to an uncontrolled number of e-mail requests, but it is something that should be kept in mind. In this case, the amount of e-mails not only resulted in possible unsubscribes but moved users to publicly vent their frustration about the organization's e-mail practices.

When determining an e-mail strategy it is important to know your audience and what they expect and to give it to them, nothing more and nothing less. It's easier said than done, but when your organization hits that happy medium your list will strengthen and grow.

What are your experiences with mass e-mails, either sending or receiving? Share your thoughts in the comments.

From Rock the Vote comes word of long delays for Virginia Tech students due to a shortage of polls, and polling locations placed far away from the campus:

Young adults are also facing obstacles in trying to vote today. More than 5,600 people, mainly Virginia Tech students, are registered to vote at precinct E1 in Blacksburg, Virginia (Montgomery County). That number is nearly double what the state law allows for polling stations and the lack of an additional polling station is causing substantial delays. In addition, the polling place is 6.5 miles away from campus at a tiny church located off the main road. There is no street sign marking the turn off to the one lane road. There are 30 parking spots for the thousands of voters expected to turn up at precinct E1. This problem is one of many student voters have faced in Blacksburg during this election.

Jim Dwyer of the New York Times has finally issued what can only be called a semi-correction to his factually flawed article about Rock the Vote. He doesn't admit that his original article was wrong, but does give Rock the Vote space to tell their side of the story and help New Yorkers whose ballot is in question.

My column last Saturday discussed the troubles encountered by New Yorkers who tried to register to vote using a form supplied by Rock the Vote, which was printed with the address of the State Board of Elections in Albany. That agency does not register voters; under the State Constitution, only the county boards of elections can register voters.

After the column appeared, Heather Smith, the executive director of Rock the Vote, contacted me to say that the state address was on a list provided by the federal Election Assistance Commission, and that her group had twice received written confirmation from state officials that they could receive the applications in Albany.

In a mass e-mail message sent on Friday afternoon, Ms. Smith said she was optimistic “that everyone who filled out, downloaded, signed and mailed a form by the Oct. 10 registration deadline will be eligible to vote — no matter where you sent it.” She urged people who registered but can’t find their names on the online list at https://voterlookup.elections.state.ny.us/ to contact 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683).