Young Voters playing a significant role in the 2008 elections; Rock the Vote kicks off Super Tuesday by Ringing the Opening Bell at NASDAQ Stock Market
Today young people are kicking off Super Tuesday alongside Rock the Vote’s Executive Director Heather Smith by ringing the opening bell at the NASDAQ stock market, signifying the powerful impact young people are having in this presidential election.
Rock the Vote rang in the New Year in Iowa, by ‘rocking the caucus’ and more than doubling youth turnout in the first contest of the 2008 elections. The increase in turnout continued to grow in January, with turnout amongst 18-29 year olds tripling in New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Florida.
As we head into Super Tuesday, Rock the Vote is fueling this movement of young voters at the polls. More than 300,000 young people have downloaded voter registration forms through Rock the Vote’s website, and more than 20,000 young people have signed the Rock the Vote “Pledge to Pick the Prez,” committing to cast their vote in one of the 22 states that are holding primaries today. “Pledge to Pick the Prez” is mobilizing young people by sending “get out the vote” text messages and online reminders to individuals in Super Tuesday states.
Young people are fed up and fighting back, claiming their voice in our political process and demanding attention to the issues they care about.
“Today young people will decide which candidates they want to be President. Our generation is declaring our independence, fighting back for our future, and casting ballots like never before,” said Heather Smith, Executive Director, Rock the Vote. “It is clear, young voters are making their mark on politics in 2008.”
For more on Rock the Vote and young voters’ turnout to the primaries, see www.RocktheVote.com and also check out our blog.
ABOUT ROCK THE VOTE
Rock the Vote’s mission is to engage and build the political power of young people in order to achieve progressive change in our country. Rock the Vote uses music, popular culture and new technologies to engage and incite young people to register and vote in every election. And we give young people the tools to identify, learn about, and take action on the issues that affect their lives, and leverage their power in the political process. Rock the Vote is creative, effective, and controlled by nobody’s agenda but our own – we tell it like it is and pride ourselves on being a trusted source for information on politics. We empower the 45 million young people in America who want to step up, claim their voice in the political process, and change the way politics is done. www.rockthevote.org