Entries Are Rolling In

Already, reports are rolling in from people who have entered to win the Rock the Trail contest. We're looking for fresh perspectives on this year's election, on the issues that matter, and what's inspiring young voters to go to the polls.

Already, we're seeing frank images from journalists like Brittny Nielsen:


We're reading inspiring words from reporters like Archana Prasanna:

“My vision for the United States in 2015 is an optimistic one. Firstly, I envision a world it will be far more environmentally friendly... My hope is that universal health care will be implemented in the near future... The United States has gained a bad reputation among various countries around the world. We are misunderstood since our actions don't always correlate with our principles. I anticipate that in 2015, America will be looked at differently."

And in true Rock the Vote form, we're listening to the songs that are inspiring voter action, like this recommendation from Saum Eskanadi:

You could call political action the ultimate act of self-confidence. Whether that be a group or an individual, there is a moment, where we are so sure that we have no choice but to make ourselves heard. The trick is knowing that you CAN. You can do anything.

I owe my renewed faith in my ability to express my ideas to Kate Nash's song "Merry Happy." Leave it to the sassy British girl to teach the gay American boy how to speak out.

Do you have something to say this year? Apply now to be a Rock the Trail Reporter at www.rockthevote.com/rockthetrail. We'll continue to post the best of our early submissions, so don't wait. Deadline is May 7 at 11:59 PM.

Supremely Wrong

Unfortunately, democracy took a blow today when the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Indiana's strictest-in-the-nation voter ID law. See Rock the Vote's statement below:

Supreme Court Photo ID Ruling a Blow to American Democracy

Voting Rights of Young Adults, Low-Income, Minority Voters, Elderly at Risk

April 28, 2008 - Today, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Indiana’s strict photo identification requirement for voters does not violate the constitutional right to vote. The ruling, upholding a decision by the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, immediately impacts only Indiana voters but could have far-reaching effects should other states move forward to enact similar laws.

Rock the Vote condemns today’s ruling, which will disenfranchise young, low-income, minority and elderly voters in Indiana, and presents additional barriers to the fundamental right to vote.

“In a year when young adults are turning out to vote in record numbers, it’s shameful to see the Court issue a ruling that can only dampen this surge in political participation,” said Heather Smith, Executive Director of Rock the Vote. “Thankfully, this ruling only directly impacts one state: Indiana,” continued Smith. “We hope that other states will avoid playing politics with the right to vote and recognize that laws like the one in Indiana do significant harm to our democracy.”

In Rock the Vote’s most recent poll of 18-29 year olds, 19 percent reported that they did not have a government-issued photo ID with their current address, indicating that as many as one in five young adults could be disenfranchised by a restrictive law such as the one in Indiana or variations on ID laws in other states. Young adults, who move frequently and/or are likely to be in college, tend to be among those most adversely affected by laws requiring state-issued photo identification. Other demographics affected adversely by this law include senior citizens, low-income adults, and minority voters.

The Supreme Court’s decision, available at http://www.supremecourtus.gov, reveals troubling thinking behind this ruling:

1) The Court admits in its ruling that the reasoning behind imposing this strict law – the desire to prevent voter fraud – was inapplicable in Indiana. In its ruling, the Court stated “the record contains no evidence that the fraud…in-person voter impersonation at polling places – has actually occurred in Indiana…” (page 2, emphasis added)

2) The Court also downgrades the constitutional right to vote. Justice Scalia, joined by Justices Thomas and Alito, stated “petitioners’ premise that the voter-identification law might have imposed a special burden on some voters is irrelevant.” (page 3, emphasis added)

3) Finally, the Court states that the burden of obtaining this identification is not “a significant increase over the usual burdens of voting” (page 3), reiterating the sentiment behind the Seventh Circuit’s shocking statement that voters who do not obtain the required identification are choosing to “disenfranchise themselves” rather than go to “the expense of obtaining a photo ID.”

Rock the Vote condemns today’s ruling and encourages other states not to follow Indiana’s lead, but to instead support the participation of young voters in 2008 and beyond by ensuring citizens’ rights to vote are priority number one in our electoral system.

Rock the Vote signed onto a brief amicus curiae in support of the petitioners in this case, along with other youth groups including the Student Association for Voter Empowerment and the National Black Law Students Association. Throughout 2008, Rock the Vote will be providing information on voter registration and voting to young Americans as part of our work to register two million 18-29 year olds to vote and increase young voter turnout for the third election in a row. In addition, we will be keeping a close eye on voting rights to ensure no eligible American is denied the right to vote.

Against Me in Rolling Stone

Check out the latest article in Rolling Stone featuring Against Me!

Early Voting in IN and NC

If you're a North Carolina or Indiana voter, you don't need to wait until the May 6 Primary-- you can vote today!

Early voting sites are open all around NC until May 3. If you forgot to register to vote in North Carolina, no worries. If you vote early, you can register on site. Just remember to bring an ID, and proof of residency if you have it.

In Indiana, you can vote absentee-in-person from now until the elections

College students: you probably don't need a reminder, but May 6 is an exam day for UNC system schools, and school's out for most of you in Indiana. If you've got a Chem 101 exam or a History paper, take a break from studying and get your voting out of the way. If you're leaving for summer break, don't forget to vote before you leave town.

From state to state, young voter turnout had doubled, tripled, and sometimes even quadrupled. NC and IN might have late primaries, but people are looking to you to see if you'll keep the trend. Don't let them down!

Nutmeg State Moves Toward 17 Year Old Primary Vote

Good news! Two days ago, the Connecticut House of Representatives passed a bill to allow 17 year olds to vote in primary elections if they'll be 18 by the time of the general election.

The overwhelming bipartisan support in the House (vote count was 135-12) is a good sign for down the road, when the bill heads to the state Senate and eventually to the statewide ballot in 2010.

Nine other states already allow 17 year olds to vote in primaries if they'll be 18 by the time of the general election: Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio and Virginia. Others - most recently New Hampshire - are working to make that happen.

Pennsylvania Rocks the Vote

According to CIRCLE, youth turnout was at least 14% for the primary last night -- over 276,000 18-29 year olds.

Now, this is somewhat complicated because there were no exit polls for the Republican Primary last night. Since exit polls are the only method we have for determining the youth vote, we know that the actual turnout % is certainly higher since it excludes all young Republican primary voters.

Regardless though, promising numbers so far!

Against Me! Rocks the Vote

We teamed up with the Florida punk band Against Me! to create a dynamic, brand-new public service announcement campaign (PSA) designed to tap into the mounting excitement that young people have shown for this year’s presidential candidates and the 2008 election.

Broadcast and video versions of the PSA hit airwaves today and encourage young people, who are already turning out to the polls in record numbers, to register to vote and cast their ballots in November’s important election.

The PSA features footage of Against Me! performing “Stop!” — the new single from their current Sire Records’ album New Wave. Directed by Directed by Mark Klasfeld (Foo Fighters, Gnarls Barkley, Jay-Z), it is centered on a red draped polling booth surrounded and inspired by a set of issues that come alive—everything from pro-choice/pro life protestors defending their position to a solider peaking through the curtain. The voting booth is a metaphor for all of the issues that are important to individuals that could be changed by voting; everything from heath care to the environment. These issues intermix with the band’s performance to a point where the voting booth sparks and explodes symbolizing the urgency and nature of this Presidential election.

Check out the article in USA Today!

Invite: A Better Deal Conference

You're invited! Check out the "A Better Deal" conference, sponsored by Demos and in partnership with Rock the Vote and a bunch of other great organizations. The event is in D.C. on May 8th and 9th.

WHAT: Hundreds of young activists meeting to learn about their generation's economic crisis. The conference is not just about ideas, though – it's about action. Attendees will get the tools to connect politics to the personal financial struggles of young voters, and get hooked up with others to build a movement for a better deal in their communities.

Activists will also have a chance to design and participate in their own, user-generated workshops. Register today to submit your idea. This conference is FREE and limited travel scholarships are available.

WHO:
-You
-Hundreds of other young activists
-Speakers: Andy Stern, SEIU, Katrina vanden Heuvel, The Nation, Heather Smith, Rock the Vote, Tom Manatos, Office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Rep. Shannon Augare, Montana State Legislature, Rob Brown, Opportunity Maine, Michael Connery, author, Youth to Power, Maya Enista, Mobilize.org, Colonel Michael F. Hayden, USAF (Ret.), Ian Kim, Ella Baker Center, Chris Lindstrom, The Student PIRGs, Gabriel Pendas, U.S. Student Association, Andrea Batista Schlesinger, Drum Major Institute, Erica Williams, Campus Progress, and more.

WHEN AND WHERE:
May 8 & May 9
The Liaison Capitol Hill
415 New Jersey Ave. NW, WASHINGTON, DC

For more information, check out www.abetterdealconference.org

Mya Rocks the Vote

"Chicago" star Mya rocks the vote in rehearsal for CBS's "Secret Talents of
the Stars" airing live on Tuesday, April 8th @ 10pm EST.

Rock the Vote Fights Back

Last Sunday Catherine Rampell wrote an article for The Washington Post titled, “Why Obama Rocks the Vote?,” overlooking the depth of the young voter movement, the foundation laid and impact of organizations like Rock the Vote and other youth organizations, and why 2008 is on track to be the third major election in a row with a significant increase in young voter turnout

Rock the Vote fought back and wrote a letter-to-the-editor (LTE) of the Washington Post, and called on our brother and sister organizations to do the same. We are happy to report The Washington Post ran our LTE and an LTE from Public Interest Research Groups' New Voter (PIRG) and U.S. Student Association (USSA) yesterday. Check them out right here...

Rock the Vote's Response
Catherine Rampell's March 30 op-ed column, "Why Obama Rocks the Vote," falsely framed recent surges in turnout of young adults -- voters ages 18 to 29 -- and failed to recognize the important work done by nonpartisan organizations such as Rock the Vote.

Turnout of these young voters in fall elections increased by 4.3 million in 2004 and by another 2 million in 2006. Far from being an anomaly, 2008 is set to become the third major election in a row with an increase in turnout among young voters.

While Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign is doing excellent work engaging young adults this year, our research shows that registration is a major step toward participation. In 2004, 82 percent of registered young adults voted, up from 74 percent in 2000. In 2004, Rock the Vote registered nearly 1 million voters, and already in 2008, more than 500,000 young adults have used our online tool to register to vote. Like the Obama campaign, Rock the Vote's message embraces the hopeful spirit of the millennial generation, and our tested and proven strategies of peer-to-peer mobilization reflect youth culture.

We're seeing unprecedented engagement in the primaries and caucuses so far and are confident we'll see this continue through November.

-- Heather Smith
The writer is executive director of Rock the Vote.

PIRG and USSA's Response
Catherine Rampell's analysis of trends in youth voting was misleading. Youth voter turnout was on the rise long before the 2008 elections. In 2004 alone, turnout among those ages 18 to 24 rose at a rate nearly three times that of the general population.

Rampell also ignored a vast body of research that points to the efficacy of canvasses, phone banks and other on-the-ground grass-roots methods. It's likely that this research, combined with the increase in turnout, persuaded most of the candidates to pay more attention to young people this primary season, turbocharging the youth vote even more.

By ignoring this correlation, Rampell missed a chance to explain the exciting continued increase in young voter turnout.

-- Sujatha Jahagirdar, Los Angeles

-- Carmen Berkley, Washington

Sujatha Jahagirdar is program director for Student Public Interest Research Groups' New Voter Project, and Carmen Berkley is vice president of the U.S. Student Association.

Calling All Young Folks In NC and IN!

Are you ready? Voter registration deadlines are quickly approaching for Indiana (April 7) and North Carolina (April 11). Register right here on our site so you're able to cast your ballot at the upcoming primary happening in your states on May 6.