Youth Voter Campaign

An article in yesterday's newspaper was shocking. Voter turnout among the young still lags.

"For all the star-studded voter registration drives featuring the likes of Madonna and Sean "Diddy" Combs, more than half of the people in the United States age 18 to 24 who are eligible to vote typically are no-shows on Election Day. By comparison, some 70 percent of those 45 and older cast their ballots, according to the Census Bureau." Voter turnout among the young still lags, AP Cassata, Donna March 2007

If people your age are to have a voice in what is happening in this country, something must be done to improve the voter registration and the turnout on election day, of young people.

Conduct a survey of your class.

How many of your peers are registered to vote?

How many intend to register when they can?

Why are students planning to vote in the next election?

What is the biggest issue impacting people your age?

What was the voter turnout in your state and county in the last election?

The action is what counts. People take action when it benefits them. There are sometimes barriers that keep people from acting. Maximize the benefits and minimize the barriers that matter to your group.

What are the benefits to 100% voter registration of young people?

What are the barriers to registering and voting in your communuity?

What will you do about them?

Develop a message and program for your age group. The campaign may use print, web based and/or multimedia resources like videos.

Motivate your peers GOTV resources

Your campaign must state the problem. Explain why/how it is a problem.

Strive to make the program appealing to your age group. Think from the viewer's perspective.

Show them the benefits of your suggestions.

Be realistic. (Your approach should be "doable" in the real world.)

Be cost effective.

Resources:

Only action produces change. - Social Marketing - Marketing Lite

Writing to persuade

Program buy in

Federal Election Commission

The Yes Men - Examine this approach to dealing with the problem/issue. Examples: WTO/GATT | Dow- Union Carbide | Ice Age Petition | Try it yourself - How to's for iMovie software

Voting motivation issue video explaining the power and importance of the unmarried women's vote.
** If you're having trouble viewing this link, you can download Windows Media Player for free.

You do not have to be physically together to work together. - Watch Google Docs video - How could you use Google Docs to do a project?

How do you spend your time? | Attendance Campaign | School Scores Campaign

Community & School Projects | Letters to Editor on voting exercise