Text Messaging GOTV Actually Works

Update: Welcome TechPresident readers. When you're done here, do also check out Colin Delaney's thoughts on the study over at ePolitics.
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I get really, really annoyed when I get text messages from Barack Obama et al (even though I signed up for them), but it turns out that text messaging actually works as a GOTV tool.

A new study by Working Assets and the Student PIRGS confirms that text message GOTV can increase the youth vote by 4-5%. It's still no replacement for peer to peer contact, but it is sure as hell a lot cheaper.

Here are the major findings of the study:

• Across the board, text message reminders increased the likelihood of an individual voting by 4.2 percentage points.
• Of the different messages tested, a short, to-the-point reminder was most effective, with a boost of nearly 5 percentage points.
• In a follow up survey, 59% of recipients reported that the reminder was helpful, versus only 23% who found it bothersome.
• Hispanics had especially positive feelings about the reminders.
• At just $1.56 per additional vote generated, text messaging was extremely cost effective.

I wonder what it means, exactly, that Hispanics had especially positive feelings. Was their turnout rate even higher? That would make sense. Text messaging was one of the major organizing tools for Hispanic youth during last year's immigration marches. It would be good to see some actual figures, but the link to the full study isn't working properly at the moment.

The link to the full study is now live. See Chris Kennedy's comment below re: the question of Hispanic turnout and receptiveness.

I guess it's time I revisited my previous statements about text messaging as a GOTV tool.