Press Releases

Young Voters Rock the 2022 Midterms

Young voters upended 2022 midterm predictions by turning out in historic numbers, and providing the margin of victory in several key races while shutting down the immediate threat of election deniers. Showing up with potent force, voters 18-29 sent a message loud and...

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The 2016 Millennial Vote and a Path Forward

Throughout this intense election cycle, you have heard from us periodically on the state of the race among Millennial voters. Our mission at Rock the Vote is to engage and mobilize young people to take action, to facilitate their engagement in the political process...

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ROCK THE VOTE AND ELECTED OFFICIALS CELEBRATE DEMOCRACY DAY

Rock The Vote announces its collaboration with mayors and secretaries of state from across the country to observe Democracy Day. Officials will teach a Democracy Class plan at schools in their cities and towns, and in one case, a correctional facility. Rock the Vote...

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Rock the Vote applauds the legal decision in Ohio

Rock the Vote applauds the recent legal decision in Ohio to allow 17-year-olds, who will turn 18 before the general election in November, to vote in Ohio’s critical presidential primaries. Nine teens from across the state had sued saying that the interpretation...

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ROCK THE VOTE LAUNCHES CORPORATE CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY

Rock the Vote, the largest non-profit and non-partisan organization in the United States building the political power of young people, is proud to announce the launch of its new program, Corporate Civic Responsibility.Rock the Vote’s Corporate Civic...

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CONNECTICUT IMPROVES ACCESS TO VOTING

A new report reveals Connecticut has made major strides in promoting access to voting over the last four years. The review updates a Rock the Vote scorecard that was released in 2011 and found that Connecticut ranked 48th out of 51 jurisdictions (or a score of...

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ROCK THE VOTE STATEMENT ON ALABAMA DMV CLOSINGS

Rock the Vote President Ashley Spillane released the following statement after Alabama announced plans to close 31 DMV offices:”Our democracy is strongest when more people exercise their right to vote, and as a principle, we ought to encourage everyone who is...

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ROCK THE VOTE CELEBRATES NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION DAY

Rock the Vote, the largest non-profit and non-partisan organization in the United States building the political power of young people, is proud to mark this year’s National Voter Registration Day (NVRD)—a national day dedicated to registering people to...

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ROCK THE VOTE STATEMENT ON VOTING RIGHTS

Rock the Vote President Ashley Spillane released the following statement this afternoon on the need to protect and strengthen voting rights for American citizens, particularly young people: “Protecting the right to vote should not be a partisan issue and we...

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ROCK THE VOTE JOINS WEDC AT SXSW 2015

On Tuesday, March 17, 2015, the non-partisan and non-profit organization Rock the Vote will join the Washington, DC Economic Partnership (WDCEP) for the music portion of their We DC programming during the 2015 SXSW festival in Austin, TX.Rock the Vote’s...

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Vote Tallies from Key States Across the Country

PENNSYLVANIA Drexel (24/10) 2010 (as of 8:00 pm ET): 112 votes cast 2006 total: 28 votes cast 27/03 2010 (as of 8:00 pm ET):  185 votes cast 2006 total: 109 votes cast 27/08 2010 (as of 8:00 pm ET):  88 votes cast 2006 total: 97 votes cast 27/09 2010 (as of 8:00 pm...

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Rock The Vote Statement: Virginia Election Results

EXIT POLL UPDATE: According to exit poll data thus far, the youth vote’s share of the overall electorate in Virginia increased by 3% points when compared to the 2009 gubernatorial election. Among voters 18-29 years of age, Terry McAuliffe beat Ken Cuccinelli 45%...

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Rock the Vote Statement on Senate Student Loan Deal

Below is Rock the Vote President Heather Smith’s statement on the compromise deal to reduce student-loan interest rates.Without immediate action on student loans and college affordability, the future of young people, who are facing rising colleges costs and...

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Rock the Vote Featuring Foo Fighters Concert: SOLD OUT

FOO FIGHTERS concert scheduled to play The Fillmore Charlotte on September 5 at 9pm to benefit Rock The Vote is sold out. Tickets for the show set a record at The Fillmore Charlotte as fastest sell out in the club’s history.The Sept. 5 show continues the world...

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Rock the Vote Featuring Foo Fighters

FOO FIGHTERS will play a rare intimate club show at The Fillmore Charlotte on September 5 at 9pm to benefit Rock The Vote.The show will celebrate the power of young voters during the Democratic National Convention and support Rock the Vote’s ground-breaking...

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Rock the Vote Announces Road Trip 2012

Rock the Vote announced today that it will once again hit the road with ‘Road Trip 2012,’ a bus tour designed to fully maximize voter registration, education, and engagement efforts as young people face an onslaught of regressive voting restrictions in...

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ROCK THE VOTE 2012 VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE

WHAT:PromoJam, RedLaser, Rock the Vote, Junk Food, and Threads for Thought teamed up to launch the first-ever #ScantoVote social media powered QR Code t-shirts for the 2012 election year. Made from 100% organic cotton, the tech-savvy eco-shirts are specifically...

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Federal Judge Protects Voter Registration Efforts in Florida

Today a federal judge in Florida blocked enforcement of the most onerous parts of a new state law that was preventing civic groups from helping to register new Florida voters this election season.Over the past year legislators in states across the country have been...

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**MEDIA ADVISORY**

Rock the Vote in partnership with Iowa Secretary of State Matt Schulz announced today that Representatives Ron Paul, Michele Bachmann and Senator Rick Santorum will attend and speak at the Rock the Caucus event on Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at 9:45 a.m. Rock the Caucus...

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Vote Tallies from Key States Across the Country

PENNSYLVANIA  Drexel (24/10) 2010 (as of 8:00 pm ET): 112 votes cast 2006 total: 28 votes cast   27/03 2010 (as of 8:00 pm ET):  185 votes cast 2006 total: 109 votes cast  27/08 2010 (as of 8:00 pm ET):  88 votes cast 2006 total: 97 votes cast...

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THEFT IN OH RESULTS IN LOST VOTER REGISTRATION FORMS

Rock the Vote Executive Director Heather Smith issues the following statement regarding the recent theft of 300 voter registration forms in Columbus, OH.”Yesterday Rock the Vote’s Ohio State Coordinator was on his way to the Secretary of State’s...

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Young Voters Ignored in 2009 Elections

Yesterday more than 30 municipal and gubernatorial elections took place across the country, yet candidates didn’t do enough to generate support from young voters.  According to CIRCLE1 ‘s analysis, based on exit poll data from New Jersey and Virginia,...

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Statement of Heather Smith, President, Rock the Vote

“Rock the Vote is pleased that the final House bill will include a key provision that will help make health insurance affordable, competitive, continuous, comprehensive and fair for young Americans.  Allowing young adults to stay on their parents’...

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Statement of Krisja Hendricks

I got involved with this health care work when Rock the Vote asked young Americans to share their stories of how not having health insurance has affected their lives.  It was being said that young people were apathetic about health care and just didn’t need...

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Young people the biggest losers in health care reform?

The Wall Street Journal recently published an opinion piece in which John Fund predicted that young people would be among the biggest losers if health care reform passes (“Health Reform’s Hidden Victims,” July 24, 2009).  While Rock the Vote...

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Young Adults Killer Health Care Statistics

Lack of Coverage: Americans between ages 18 and 29 are the most uninsured age group in the country. (The Lewin Group / Families USA) More than 30 million young adults between the ages of 19 and 34 (46.8 percent) went without health insurance at some point during 2007...

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18-29 Year Olds Have Highest Uninsured Rate in the U.S.

“Young people have the most to gain from reform of the health care system and the most to lose from failure,” said Heather Smith, executive director of Rock the Vote. “Americans between the ages of 19 and 29 have the highest uninsured rate of any age...

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Rock the Vote Nights Launches in D.C. Featuring Wale

Rock the Vote (RTV) is excited to launch Rock the Vote Nights featuring Wale at the 930 Club in Washington, D.C. on June 3. “Wale has been on tour all over the country for the past two months and we are excited to bring him back to D.C. on June 3,”...

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Rock the Vote Nominated for Webby Award for Activism

Rock the Vote is thrilled to be among the nominees for the Webby Award for “Activism”. Hailed as the “Internet’s highest honor” by the New York Times, The Webby Awards is the leading international award honoring excellence on the...

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Rock the Vote Kicks Off Five Premier Inaugural Events

In celebration of record-breaking youth voter turnout and the Inauguration of our 44th President, Rock the Vote will host five exclusive inaugural events.  This year Rock the Vote ran the largest voter registration drive of its kind in history, which resulted in...

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Rock the Vote and ck one Host Inauguration Party

On January 20th, Rock the Vote and ck one will present the Rock the Vote ck one Inauguration Party. This celebration will bring together fans and VIPS attending this historic inauguration at the legendary 9:30 Club for LIVE performances by: Michael Franti &...

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Youth Vote Rivals Largest in American History

Update: The latest tallies show that approximately 23 million 18-29 year olds voted on Election Day 2008, the most young voters ever to cast a ballot in a presidential election and an increase of 3 million compared with 2004, according to the Center for Information...

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Young Voters Already Exceeding 2004 tallies at 4:00 pm EST

Here are the numbers:Drexel University (Philadelphia)2008(as of 1pm): 500 votes cast2004 total: 425 votes castVirginia Tech (Blacksburg)2008 (as of 3pm): 2,465 votes cast2004 total: 2,069 votes cast Florida State University (Tallahassee)2008 (as of 3pm): 721 votes...

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Young Voters Hit Record Turnout in States Across the Country

Young voter turnout nationwide is showing significant increases compared to 2004 vote totals. Across the country, young people are voting at historic levels. In Virginia and Pennsylvania, where polls have already closed, we are seeing how their turnout is making the...

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YOUNG VOTERS MAKE HISTORY

Tonight Rock the Vote is celebrating alongside young Americans nationwide as reports indicate record turnout in the 2008 election.  From coast to coast we have witnessed young voters flooding the polls excited and enthusiastic to cast their ballots.   ...

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Youth Voters Poised to Make History on Election Day 2008

Young people are poised to make this election one for the history books. According to the Associated Press there are approximately 9 million new voters registered in this election cycle, nearly half are under the age of 30. This year Rock the Vote launched the largest...

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Rock the Vote Launches Election Protection Program

In advance of an anticipated surge in young voter turnout on Election Day, Rock the Vote is launching “Rock Your Rights,” a program designed to ensure that all young adults who are eligible to vote are able to do so. “Rock Your Rights” will...

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Rock the Vote Launches “Get out the Vote” Campaign

With just 20 days until Election Day, Rock the Vote is shifting its focus from voter registration to educating and turning out the 44 million eligible voters under 30.  Already this year more than 2.3 million individuals have registered to vote through...

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Rock the Vote Launches “Get out the Vote” Campaign

With just 20 days until Election Day, Rock the Vote is shifting its focus from voter registration to educating and turning out the 44 million eligible voters under 30. Already this year more than 2.3 million individuals have registered to vote through...

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Rock the Vote Registers Record Breaking 2 Millionth Voter

As many states’ voter registration deadlines come to a close tonight, Rock the Vote is celebrating Morgan Reed-Parker, a 17 year old from North Carolina, our 2 millionth registration of the 2008 election cycle.  Rock the Vote’s 2008 registration...

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VOTE APPAREL CREATES PARTNERSHIP WITH ROCK THE VOTE

The Boston-based team behind VOTEAPPAREL.COM has formed a joint partnership with ROCK THE VOTE, an initiative designed to get young people out to vote this election season. The two organizations have designed a co-branded t-shirt based on a globally recognized pop-art...

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STATEMENT BY MAX KENNEDY

Today Rock the Vote is at Virginia Tech to shine a spotlight on a flagrant and offensive attempt made last month to scare Virginia college students away from registering to vote. Voting rights violations are nothing new in our country – sadly, we have long...

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CABLE INDUSTRY LAUNCHES “COUNTDOWN TO YOUTH VOTE”

With the candidates for President and Vice President of the United States now officially nominated, the cable industry today announced it has launched “Countdown To Youth Vote,” a continuation of its “Our Time to Vote” non-partisan voter...

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ROCK THE VOTE EMBARKS ON THE ROAD TRIP ’08

Rock the Vote, the leading organization for youth and politics, has announced plans for a three week road trip designed to fully maximize voter registration, education, and engagement efforts in key youth markets.  Already it’s a historic year for Rock the...

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STATEMENT FROM HEATHER SMITH ON VETERANS’ BILL

Rock the Vote congratulates the Department of Veterans Affairs for overturning the ban on voter registration drives in VA hospitals and other government facilities. According to this morning’s NY Times, “The reversal came after months of pressure from...

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ROCK THE VOTE’S GULF COAST INITIATIVE

As part of its activities scheduled around the political parties’ nominating conventions, Rock the Vote had planned to host two  receptions on August 31 and September 1st in Minneapolis to draw attention to and celebrate the political youth movement...

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DEOS ROCKS THE VOTE

A new twist on accessories for your iPod® or iPhone® headphones have hit the market: DEOS (Defining Expressions of Sound) Ear Buds are making a stand for ROCK THE VOTE.  The new DEOS “VOTE” Ear Buds debut next week at the Democratic and...

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PEANUTS FANS TO ROCK THE VOTE IN ONLINE MOCK ELECTION

It may well be the most historic Presidential campaign since the first U.S. presidential election of 1789, featuring candidates who have never before reached such political heights. Who would ever have thought that one day voters could cast their ballots for…a...

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Leveraging the Power of Celebrities

In the minds of many, the youth vote is synonymous with celebrities, and not without reason. Ever since the day that Rock the Vote opened its doors in 1991, celebrity spokespeople have been the face of most campaigns targeting young voters. Through PSAs, high-profile...

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Rock the Vote Kicks off 2008 General Election Campaign

The 2008 general presidential election has begun and Rock the Vote is launching its campaign to engage, register, and turn out young people in November.  Over 6.6 million 18-29 year olds have voted in the Democratic and Republican nominating contests, and we...

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Christina Aguilera Kicks-off Rock the Vote’s 2008 Campaign

Today, Rock the Vote is launching its 2008 national public service advertising (PSA) campaign. Christina Aguilera is the featured artist in this first broadcast and print execution of the ad campaign. Targeting young people, the ads encourage individuals to take...

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Against Me! Rocks the Vote

Influential youth-voter organization Rock the Vote and Florida punk band Against Me! have teamed up 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...

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Young Voter Turnout Surging & Engaging Diverse Constituencies

Young adults today are not only voting in larger numbers, but are more diverse than ever before, according to a new report released today by the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) and Rock the Vote.After a steady decline in...

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Rock the Vote Goes Mobile for March 4th Primaries

From Iowa to Wisconsin, young voters have taken this election by force. In every primary and caucus this year not only have young adults increased their turnout at the polls, but more importantly they have been leading a movement– demanding to be heard and...

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Update: Young NH Turnout Even Bigger Than We Thought

More than 84,230 18-29 year olds voted in New Hampshire yesterday, a 271% increase from 2004 levels, according to a revised estimate from CIRCLE at the University of Maryland.Young adults’ turnout rate jumped sharply by 25 percentage points, from 18% in 2004 to...

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Young Adults Rock the New Hampshire Vote

Building on the momentum of last week’s historic turnout in Iowa, 18-29 year olds in New Hampshire today turned out to the polls in huge numbers, in some locations spilling out the door and forming lines up to an hour long as large turnout exceeded expectations....

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Young Voter Turnout Surges in NH

According to CNN’s exit polling:    * On the Democratic side, 18-29 year olds made up 18% of today’s vote, up from 14% in 2004.    * On the Republican side, 18-29 year olds made up 13% of today’s vote (there are no 2004...

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Rock the Vote On the Ground in New Hampshire

Young voters made history in Iowa last week with record turnout to the caucuses. Defying all expectations, 17-29 year olds tripled their numbers at the caucuses, propelled the winners to victory, and made the country sit up and take notice.Now it’s New...

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Rock the Vote Statement on Iowa Student Voting Rights

“Over the past week, several campaigns, candidates and political reporters have stated that college students who moved to Iowa to attend school should not vote in the Iowa caucuses.”These statements are a frustrating and disappointing attempt to suppress...

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COLLEGE AFFORDABILITY DAY OF ACTION

In the wake of an historic voter turnout among young people in the 2006 election, our groups are pushing Congress to respond to the issues that young people care about. Today, at 2pm, our coalition will hold a press conference on Capitol Hill to outline our education...

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YOUNG VOTER TURNOUT SURGES IN 2006

Young voters turned out to vote in higher numbers and favored Democrats by a wide margin, according to exit polls, providing a major boost to Democratic candidates in yesterday’s House and Senate elections. The 2006 turnout increase follows on the unprecedented...

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