Check out Chrissy from Rock the Vote moderating Self Magazine’s #13for13 Resolutions for a Better HOA: Get Involved. Featuring panelists from the Knight Foundation’s, Jeff Coates; Ashoka’s Lennon Flowers; Alex Smith, from the College Republican National Committee; Chris Wallas, Obama Campaign Field Organizer from Prince George’s County and and Devin Foley, from The Intellectual Takeout.
Archive for the
‘rock the vote’ Category
Get Involved 2013
Friday, January 25th, 2013 |
Rock the Vote Bio: Rock the Vote was founded in 1990 to organize artists and fight against censorship of musicians. Since then we've evolved to focus on empowering young people to get involved in the political process. We use pop culture, peer-to-peer organizing, and the latest technology to raise visibility of politics and demystify the process of registering to vote. @rockthevote Email the author at: blog(at)rockthevote.com |
National Voter Registration Day
Tuesday, September 25th, 2012National Voter Registration Day
From coast to coast, Rock the Vote is blowing out the first ever National Voter Registration Day with concerts, events, videos, and new technologies, all with the goal of registering more voters than have ever been registered to vote in a single day. In Philadelphia, Rock the Vote is having a huge concert at the Community College of Philadelphia with Talib Kweli, a guest DJ set by Jeffery Tonnesen, and an appearance with Miss USA Olivia Culpo. It is also the first stop of the second leg of the Road Trip, which will be coming to a city near you soon. Make sure to keep tabs on them #RTVRoadtrip.
In New York City, Rock the Vote has teamed up with NYC Votes to put on the Youth Voter Registration Jam, which will bring DJ’s from radio station Hot97 together with stars like Rosario Dawson all together for a great time to get young people registered.
In LA Rock the Vote is doing 2 amazing events with Amoeba music. In the store there will be a live show with Murs and Fashawn celebrating both National Voter Registration Day. They have a new album coming out today called This Generation. If you can’t make the show tonight at 6pm at Amoeba Records in Hollywood, be sure to check out the live cast of the concert. Across the street at Space15twenty Band of Horses are playing an intimate show for National Voter Registration Day and to mark the release of their new album Mirage Rock.
We are also having events in places as far and wide as Austin, Boston, Detroit, and many many more. See which ones are happening near you and go out and register!
Not only that, but we have teamed up with Funny or Die for two awesome, and very funny videos with today’s biggest stars. Don’t miss them!
All of this is to bring people together, both in person and online, to register to vote and be heard. Join us, and share the the link to rockthevote.com today as much as you can to make sure everyone you know is registered to vote today! It’s easier now than ever, and you can even do it right on Facebook!
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sam@rockthevote.com Bio: Email the author at: blog(at)rockthevote.com |
Election Guide Weekly Post – Taxes
Tuesday, July 10th, 2012Rock the Vote is pleased to announce that we will be releasing a 2012 Election Issue guide for young voters to use a reference to cast a well-informed vote. Each week we will post one of the issues from the guide until its release. This week’s feature is the tax debate.
One of the most divisive areas of American politics is raising taxes or offering tax breaks. At the center of this debate is raising the income tax by tax bracket to raise revenue to pay for the massive debt that has already been built. Some believe that raising taxes for the wealthiest Americans may be a solution; while others contend that raising taxes is the last course of action an already too-expanded government should take. A further examination of the fundamental problem of a poor economy has led some to believe that lowering the high corporate tax rate would support business creation in the U.S. and allow for greater competition abroad. One aspect of this debate is in non-partisan agreement; the tax code is convoluted, and requires some degree of reform. However, the method and direction this reform should take is a point of contention between parties seeking to advance the wishes and philosophies of their constituents.
This debate effects young voters in much the same way as the other age demographics in the U.S. yet with, if possible, even more significance. For one, young voters leaving college with debt and preparing to construct a stable career are often under mild to serious financial strain, meaning that each tax increase could cause immense difficulties. Furthermore, young voters have the most to lose from a poorly constructed policy that does not strike a balance between raising money for the government to reduce the budget deficit and supporting growth in our floundering economy, as young voters will be inheriting the 15.5 trillion dollar national debt. As bickering creates deadlock in Congress and prevents meaningful progress, it is vital that young voters provide a push for their representatives to cast aside the bickering that has been dominating policy discusion and make the right decisions for our future.
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Alex Meyer Bio: Alex Meyer is a sophomore at Colorado College planning to major in Political Science and History. He believes strongly in the importance of maximizing voter participation in order to provide the check on concentrated power that the founding fathers envisioned when they wrote the constitution. Email the author at: blog(at)rockthevote.com |
A Valley High Student Recounts Rock the Caucus
Thursday, January 19th, 2012Rock the Vote’s Rock the Caucus at Valley High School in West Des Moines, Iowa was an event unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. When our assistant principal selected me to be a student candidate for the event’s mock caucus, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I thought, “What’s this Rock the Caucus everyone is talking about? Why was I chosen to be a part of it?”
Teaming up with Rock the Vote for Rock the Caucus ended up being a blast. Rock the Vote and the Iowa Secretary of State’s office invited all of the Republican Presidential Candidates to the event, and four campaigns ended up attending! The student candidate group, of which I was a part, had the chance to interview and escort the candidates – Michele Bachmann, Mitt Romney’s sons, Rick Santorum, and Ron Paul – to the gymnasium where the event took place. I was assigned to interview and escort Ron Paul. It was rewarding to have one-on-one time with a presidential candidate! Through this experience I met so many wonderful and important people who want to make sure young people are involved in the political process.
Rock the Caucus’ ability to rally the young voters of Valley High School was empowering. Throughout my high school career, I have never witnessed students have such an important platform to speak about the issues in their schools and communities and how to fix these issues. The four student candidates had a chance to take advantage of this opportunity. Each of us had one minute to stand up on stage and talk about three issues we would change at Valley High School.
The most shocking part of the experience was the hundreds of news reporters, paparazzi, and video cameras that arrived when they heard the candidates would be speaking to us. I had never felt so nervous and excited at the same time… it was incredible! We not only had the attention of our classmates and administration, but also the attention of the nation. This made students realize what a huge role they have in voting and politics. Whether the student candidates spoke about our school dance policy, school food, support for school activities, P.E. classes, or finals, we were able to engage students on the issues that impact them. After we spoke, each of our assigned presidential candidates addressed the student body about problems that lay beyond the halls of our high school. Everyone had a lot of fun with this part – we only see candidates speak on TV, but the fact that they were speaking at our high school was unbelievable!
After speaking about our school’s P.E. requirement, I ended up winning the student mock caucus, which was very cool. On top of that, people kept telling me they saw me on national television! It was amazing to have our speeches broadcast live to the nation.
I think Rock the Caucus really helped to make young people aware of their role in society and the importance of their voice and vote. When we realize that we have the power to voice our opinions for others to hear, it encourages us to make our voices heard. I had so much fun teaming up with Rock the Vote. This event really changed my perspective on my role as a citizen, and I look forward to participating in politics in the future.
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Maddy Baker Bio: Senior at Valley High School and a Rock the Caucus student candidate. Email the author at: blog(at)rockthevote.com |
Updates from the field
Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010As early polling numbers start trickling in this afternoon, our Rock the Vote field teams report that young people around the country are excited to raise their voices today in the midterm elections.
In Philadelphia on the University of Pennsylvania campus this morning, 19-year-old Jill told RTV Field Director Eric Zoberman that this election is critical in the wake of 2008’s historic experience.
“It was great to see so many young people involved in 2008, but without that level of enthusiasm, it is even more my responsibility to stay engaged and vote,” she said.
It’s still early in the day, but we are optimistic that many of the 300,000 people who downloaded our registration forms this year will hit the polls. In the last midterm election in 2006, we registered 50,000 people, so we’re excited to see the outcome of that increase in participation as the results are announced.
Some cool things are already in motion this Election Day. If you’re like us at RTV Headquarters, we’re all enjoying watching our friends announce that they’ve voted and contribute to the massive tally on Facebook, which is increasing by the minute (It’s at more than 4 million voters as of 2pm EDT!). Some of us are also checking in on Foursquare, unlocking the “I Voted” badge RTV collaborated with other groups to create for today.
On the ground, young people are experiencing some early victories. RTV North Carolina State Coordinator Tracy Leatherberry reports that in many precincts, we’ve already surpassed our 2006 midterm turnout. In Gainesville, FLA, Deputy Field Director Annie Lorenzana has a large crowd of young people gathered at her University of Florida polling place casting ballots. State Coordinator Rob Abraham is on the Ohio State University campus where enthusiastic students are gathered at The Union to vote.
If you’ve already voted, encourage your friends to vote too! Send them a link to our “Vote Fearlessly” video with Nick Cannon, Casey Affleck, Joaquin Phoenix, Kate Walsh and other stars.
Stay tuned this afternoon for more updates. We’ll be back with the latest news from our people on the ground, as well as analysis of the results as they are available.
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Tom Yarnell Bio: Tom is a former Rock the Vote communications team member who now works for an intellectual property law firm in DC. He loves sports and coming back to blog for RTV! @thomasyarnell Email the author at: blog(at)rockthevote.com |
