Youth Voter Campaign

Your group is considering conducting a voter registration campaign.

Evaluate the voting data for your state. Voting and Registration data US Census Bureau.

How did people in your age group do in the 2008 election? Did participation: improve? Remain steady? Decline?

"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.

According to CIRCLE (the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement) - Youth turnout has risen sharply in the 2008 primary campaign! | United States Election Project

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 election day turnout of young people.

We're Number #1 - In every given year, your class has the power to set a record. You could have every eligible class member registered to vote and to turn out to vote in the next election.

Conduct a survey of your class.

How many of your peers (who are eligible to vote) are registered to vote?

How many intend to register when they can?

Why are students planning to vote in the next election?

What are the biggest issues 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 community?

What will you do about them?

Set a SMART goal - (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Results oriented, Time related.)

Develop a message and program for your age group.

The campaign may use print, web based and/or multimedia resources like videos.

Only action produces change - Social Marketing

Motivate your peers Vote.gov

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.

Consider these facts Special Report: Young Voter Mobilization Tactics

Proof the project. It is funny how speling errors and typeos sneak in to the bets work.

As a class - Evaluate the campaign projects.

Work the plan - Present the winning project to your peers.

Can your class/community achieve a record 100% registration of eligible voters?

Resources:

Emergence - do things organize without an organizer?

Writing to persuade | Program buy in

Federal Election Commission | The Democratic Promise: Suffrage in Pennsylvania

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

Evaluate Letters to the Editor on Voting | Suffrage for 18 years old | When did your state retify the 26th Amendment?

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