|
Today’s young people constitute one of the most tech-savvy,
connected, and engaged generations in American history. Unlike their
Generation X counterparts, the Millennial Generation, as they are
called, is deeply concerned about the world around them, and they
are making their opinions known. Using tools like Facebook and YouTube,
they are reaching out to their peers and elders, and discussing
the issues that they care about. They aren’t just talking
though; they’re also voting. In 2004, 4.3 million more 18-29
year olds voted than in 2000, a nine percentage point increase (from
40% to 49%). The turnout among the youngest was more than double
that of any other age group. In 2006, the trend continued with approximately
10 million 18-29 year olds voting, an increase of two million (or
24%) over 2002. In the past two election cycles they have turned
out in increasing numbers, and for the first time, candidates and
political elites are starting to pay attention. Multiple presidential
campaigns have dedicated entire staff positions for the sole purpose
of mobilizing throngs of young voters in 2008 and dozens of nonprofit
organizations – not focused on young people - have taken note
and have begun to incorporate youth turnout plans into their election
agenda.
Rock
the Vote has been at the forefront of the youth vote movement, registering
over 1.4 million young people in 2004 and tens of thousands more
in 2006. Rock the Vote, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization founded
in 1990 to help protect freedom of expression and empower young
people to change the world, is dedicated to engaging young people
in the political process and ensuring their voices are heard; the
first step of which is registering and voting. With a history of
success, Rock the Vote is looking big to the next election cycle.
In 2008, the organization will initiate an ambitious nationwide
campaign to register 2 million voters, in order to continue the
trend of increased youth voter participation. By teaming up not
only with recording artists and celebrities, but field and research
groups as well, Rock the Vote will be using state-of-the-art technology
and research of youth outreach and mobilization to ensure that the
18-29 year-old demographic is one of the most influential parts
of the electorate in 2008.
|
Mary
McClelland |
Mary
McClelland works in the Field Department of Rock the Vote and oversees
the field strategy for the organization, which includes everything
from its grassroots organizing initiatives to its numerous field partnerships.
She has also served as National Field Coordinator for Young Voter
Strategies, an organization that researches and formulates best practices
for the youth vote. There, she worked with organizations across the
country to not only register over 520,000 18-30 year olds but to create
some of the definitive campaign models that will help keep young people
as a permanent part of electoral strategy. Before joining RTV, she
served as the Senior National Field Organizer for Public Campaign,
a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to sweeping reform
that aims to dramatically reduce the role of big special interest
money in American politics. Mary got her start in politics as an organizer
for the California Public Interest Research Group (CALPIRG) working
to energize both students and community members around environmental,
democracy and consumer rights issues. She is a graduate of Denison
University with a B.A. in English. |
