Rock the Vote

This just in from our friends at Rock the Vote:

Today, a group of United States Senators, lead by Michael Bennet of Colorado urged the U.S. Department of Justice to carefully review the highly restrictive photo ID laws that have been passed – or are under consideration – in states across the country. This is a huge development, and we hope the DOJ will use its authority granted by the Voting Rights Act to protect those who would be disenfranchised.

[...]

Senator Bennet’s letter was signed by Majority Leader Harry Reid (NV) and U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin (IL), Chuck Schumer (NY), Kirsten Gillibrand (NY), Sherrod Brown (OH), Jeanne Shaheen (NH), Jeff Merkley (OR), Mark Begich (AK), Ben Cardin (MD), Mary Landrieu (LA), Patty Murray (WA), Ron Wyden (OR), Tom Harkin (IA), Herb Kohl (WI) and Tom Udall (NM).

Since January, photo ID laws have been enacted in Wisconsin, South Carolina, Alabama, Texas, Kansas and Tennessee. In Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire and North Carolina, Governors have vetoed bills that passed their state legislatures; those vetoes likely will be challenged with override votes in New Hampshire and North Carolina. Ohio and Pennsylvania are actively considering proposals, joining over 30 states that have introduced legislation to require only government-issued photo IDs at the polls.

Bennet's letter is provided below:

Dear Attorney General Holder:

We are writing to express our concerns about highly restrictive photo identification requirements under consideration or already signed into law in several states. These measures have the potential to block millions of eligible American voters without addressing any problem commensurate with this kind of restriction on voting rights. Studies have shown that as high as 11% of eligible voters nationwide do not have a government-issued ID. This percentage is higher for seniors, racial minorities, low-income voters and students. Voting is the foundation of our democracy, and we urge you to protect the voting rights of Americans by using the full power of the Department of Justice to review these voter identification laws and scrutinize their implementation.

Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act vests significant authority in the Department to review laws before they are implemented in covered jurisdictions. As you know, the burden of proof in this preclearance process is on those covered jurisdictions, which must be able to show that legal changes will not have a discriminatory impact on minority voters. New photo identification laws, for instance, must be subjected to the highest scrutiny as states justify these new barriers to participation. In Section 5 jurisdictions, whenever photo identification legislation is considered, the Department should closely monitor the legislative process to track any unlawful intent evinced by the proceedings.

Restrictive photo identification requirements are also being considered or have passed in states and jurisdictions that are not covered by Section 5. The Department should exercise vigilance in overseeing whether these laws are implemented in a way that discriminates against protected classes in violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Additionally, federal civil rights law – 42 U.S.C. 1971(a)(2)- prohibits different standards, practices or procedures from being applied to individuals within a jurisdiction. We believe the Department should ensure that these photo identification laws do not violate this statute or other federal voting rights statutes.

Highly restrictive photo identification requirements at the polls can make it more difficult for well-intentioned voters to cast their ballots, and as far as America’s civil rights trajectory is concerned, that sort of effect takes America in the wrong direction. We urge you to exercise your authority to examine these laws so that voting rights are not jeopardized. We also request that you brief us on the efforts the Department is undertaking to ensure these new laws are implemented in accordance with the Voting Rights Act.

Thank you for your work protecting the civil rights of all Americans.

These new laws and proposals, largely from Republicans, target constituencies that are traditionally unfriendly to the GOP and that were, in fact, a large piece of the coalition voting Obama and Democrats into office in 2008. Rock the Vote has been great at covering this story and advocating for the voting rights of young voters in these states. We at Future Majority echo RTV's call for the Department of Justice to intervene and safeguard the voting rights of the poor, of minorities, and of young people.

• Joan Walsh provides some interesting food for thought regarding the health of the Obama coalition as we move toward 2012. How might this coalition of disaffected Republicans, progressives, young voters, first time voters, labor, and African Americans and Latinos look this time around, and more importantly, will it be as powerful?
  

  "One big problem for Obama is that he assembled an unprecedented electoral coalition in 2008, but it wasn't a governing coalition. Progressives like to think of the themselves as the president's base, and it's partly true: Obama won thanks to an unrivaled turnout of young voters, first time voters, African Americans and Latinos; and an energetic labor effort. But they – we – weren't enough by ourselves. He also did well with independents and even some Republicans who were ashamed of what the Bush Cheney years did to their party. Predictably, a lot of those voters are going home now. I'm not sure they'll be entirely happy with what they'll find when they get there, or whether they'll discover the Tea Party ransacked the place. But they're uncomfortable with the way Obama used government to solve the banking crisis, stimulate the ailing economy and extend health insurance to more people. Of course, on the left he hasn't done enough on those fronts. When both sides are carping, the common wisdom goes, that means you must be doing something right. I'm not sure that's true when you're facing re-election."

• Rock the Vote President Heather Smith argues that state voting systems restrict young Americans, and demands improvement in The Hill. The youth movement can't talk about this enough!
• Colbert tackles the youth vote:

  "The GOP brand is about as popular with kids as an episode of "60 Minutes" hosted by a tube of Sensodyne."

  
  

  The Colbert Report
  Tags: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive

• Does Facebook exacerbate our society's obsession with "Keeping up with the Jones'?" This article suggests that yes, it does, and the consequences could lead to depression.
• Meanwhile, here is a report suggesting that for all the widgets, tools, and gadgets meant to connect young people to various initiatives online, they won't improve political participation in young people.
• It's nothing new, but it probably remains to be the largest story impacting youth today: unemployment.
• Just in case you didn't see it yesterday, an interesting video from Lee Camp calling on the Millennial Generation to get out of the metaphorical basement.
• 20 Questions with Paul Ryan, including, "Do you think the GOP could win back young voters?"
• KPAX out of Montana discusses the state's #4 ranking on the Rock the Vote Scorecard.

• Rock the Vote has a young voter score card for states
• Iowa is one of the top states in the country for access to voting and ease of voting for youth. Other states include North Carolina and Montana
• Why millennials can’t start their careers and baby boomers can’t end theirs.
  

  "It’s hard to say this spring whether it’s more difficult for the class of 2011 to enter the labor force or for the class of 1967 to leave it.

  Students now finishing their schooling—the class of 2011—are confronting a youth unemployment rate above 17 percent. The problem is compounding itself as those collecting high school or college degrees jostle for jobs with recent graduates still lacking steady work. “The biggest problem they face is, they are still competing with the class of 2010, 2009, and 2008,” says Matthew Segal, cofounder of Our Time, an advocacy group for young people.

  At the other end, millions of graying baby boomers—the class of 1967—are working longer than they intended because the financial meltdown vaporized the value of their homes and 401(k) plans. For every member of the millennial generation frustrated that she can’t start a career, there may be a baby boomer frustrated that he can’t end one."

• Care2 picks up our debunking of the "empowerment" of debt among youth with their story: Debt may not be so empowering after all
• After yesterday's story about the Iowa State Senator who told students lobbying for fair tuition to "go home" Campus Progress has launched a petition asking people to demand Republican Iowa State Sen. Shawn Hamerlinck apologize to Iowa's youth.
• WH reaches out to young voter roundtables

  

• This is so depressing - Are anti-depresents over prescribed to youth?
• Youth who watch MTV's Pregnancy Programs are more likely to support abortion according to a new survey (PDF) of viewers. Full disclosure ... after watching this show I believed very strongly in sterilization...
  

  "71 percent of "millennials" (ages 18 to 29) have seen a show about pregnancy.

  And 29 percent of millennials had seen, specifically, either "Teen Mom" or "16 and Pregnant." Among Americans overall, that number drops to 17 percent.

  But regardless of age, the study found that 65 percent of those shows' viewers support abortion -- among the general public, 56 percent support it."

• By that same token here is One Millennial's take on New Research around LGBT Rights and Abortion - The story on the research itself shows that youth tend to support choice and believe in its legality but believe its morally wrong. This will surly be critical messaging for choice groups in upcoming elections as they make their case to young voters.
  

  "Just under half of 18- to 29-year-olds say that abortion is morally acceptable, but six out of 10 say it should be legal in most or all cases, and nearly seven out of 10 say it should be available locally."

• NC House OKs blocking low-interest college loans
  

  "North Carolina's House of Representatives is sidestepping Gov. Beverly Perdue's veto by trying to allow more than two dozen community colleges to refuse to offer low-interest student loans. . . .

  College presidents say they worry they'll be cut off from federal financial aid programs if student loan defaults go too high. Community Colleges vice president Linda Weiner said each campus is responsible for student financial aid issues and presidents have the leeway to act on their concerns."

• By that same token - Wells Fargo has launched a fixed interest rate student loan program - I assume to compete with federal student loans? If you consolidate your federal student loan and lock in a rate that rate never changes. In 2007 Congress passed a bill that helped bring more sunshine to student loan companies. That Congress continued with a huge student loan overhaul and the fight continues today....
• More on the Student Loan bubble
• Personal story of a Tennessee youth who is young, gay and homeless
• The AFL-CIO hosts its second annual Young Workers Summit in Minneapolis
• Commentary: Is college worth it?
• The Roosevelt Institute is having a reception in DC this evening if you want to go here are the details
• The Senate HELP Committee released a staff discussion draft of Title I of the proposed Workforce Investment Act (WIA) reauthorization bill. SparkAction.org will feature Millennial stories on it as this moves forward.
• From the League of Young Voters 99Problems.org blog they pose the question - is our generation post racial? Given that we're the most diverse generation in American history this is a great question to ask.

With several states trying to shrink democracy in the United States, our partners at Rock the Vote have developed a tool that will hold states accountable to providing young voters access to the political process.

The tool--the Voting System Scorecard--analyzes the laws and policies of all 50 states that have an impact on young voters' participation in the process. Amid Republican-led efforts to restrict political participation among youth, the scorecard will provide observers with a baseline measurement against which they can monitor further efforts to deny youth their right to participate. Unfortunately, this scorecard already reveals that young Americans are being left out of the democratic process because of outdated voter registration practices, barriers encountered when trying to cast a ballot, and our country's failure to adequately prepare them for active citizenship.

You can view the scorecard, key findings, and a link to send the full report to your elected officials here:

http://www.rockthevote.com/research/2011-voting-system-scorecard.html.

The scorecard measures state laws and policies in three key areas: (1) voter registration, (2) casting a ballot, and (3) young voter preparation. The 21 point scale evaluates each state's implementation of policies that increase access to the political process, including: automatic registration, permanent and portable registration, Same Day Registration, online registration, early voting periods, identification requirements, residency requirements, absentee voting, military and overseas voting, and high school civics curricula and evaluation.

As you will see, a vast majority of states are failing to meet the needs of young voters. With an average score of 41%--and the top score being only 68%--too many states are not implementing new technologies and policies to get people registered, limiting opportunities to cast a ballot, and failing to teach young people about voting and elections in high school.

Heather Smith, President of Rock the Vote, appeared on MSNBC yesterday to highlight the scorecard. Here she is:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Rock the Vote has launched a new website designed to help young voters get their questions answered about voting in the November election that would function like "Yelp for politics."

From the RTV blog:

We’ve created Electionland as a one-stop shop for the 2010 elections — the place where you can ask and answer questions on everything related to elections in your state. You can find you state’s voter registration deadline and fill out a voter registration application. You have access to folks with big brains about what’s on the ballot. You can get answers to questions big and small. In some states, candidates will answer your questions directly. (We’ve got them to answer some questions Rock the Vote compiled from young voters and we’re fired up to bring you the content from our innovative friends at 10 Questions starting in October.)

At the moment Electionland has more in common with Yahoo! Answers than with Yelp, but with some major buy-in from candidates it would have potential. The site allows candidates to hold online town halls using its platform, as well as online candidate debates. Perhaps some smaller races will take advantage of these features if they are publicized well, but I would be surprised if a lot of high-profile races jumped on board for online debates.

Granted, there is nothing wrong with being mostly a question-and-answer resource for voting information, and it already provides useful information for young voters who are unsure about the process.

If you are a candidate that is thinking about using Electionland's online town hall or debate features, we would love to hear your thoughts about the service in the comments.

Thomas Goldstein and Thomas Bates, Executive Director of the Washington Bus and Vice President for Civic Engagement at Rock the Vote respectively, penned an op-ed published in today's Seattle Times. Goldstein and Bates took aim at the idea that youth's "low" turnout in midterm elections relative to older age groups ultimately means a smaller impact on the results.

It isn't exactly news that young people tend to vote at lower rates than older voters. The more interesting story is that even if young people turn out at lower rates, they can dramatically affect the election landscape and outcomes. That happened most visibly in the 2008 presidential election, but also in certain nonpresidential elections closer to home.

The approval of Referendum 71, the election of a young mayor in Tacoma, and two victorious young City Council candidates in Spokane are all evidence of the efficacy of targeting young voters. Moreover, the highest turnout in the state in 2009 was in the 43rd Legislative District, which has the greatest concentration of young voters.

Even with mounting evidence, too many campaigns write off young voters, and this tired habit has made the prophecy of low turnout a self-fulfilling one. It almost reads as a new definition of madness: Time and time again, campaigns don't invest time and resources into young people, and then are surprised when they don't mail in their ballots.

[...]

Luckily, we're doing something about it. Forward-looking organizations and campaigns have tested methods to engage young people and have committed resources to make them reliable voters. And we're seeing results: For the past three major election cycles — yes, even pre-Obama — the turnout of young people has steadily increased.

We know what works: Make sure young people are registered to vote, give them relevant information in an engaging way, and run campaigns that connect with their values.

The point both are making is that, blessed with size, the effect of even a subtle increase in the Millennial voting rate can be worth a few points in various midterm elections -- enough to tip those races in different directions.

As we move forward into the meat of the 21st Century, these younger people, increasingly becoming adults, are going to need to be pursued in a different way than past voters. This calls for aggressive engagement, complete with the "relevant information" Goldstein and Gates mention above, as well as managing campaigns that reflect youth's values.

FutureMajority is part of the Y.I. Want Change coalition. Congratulations to the Y.I. organizers for a successful event! - Karlo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Contacts: Rebecca Abou-Chedid (Young Invincibles): media@younginvincibles.org, 202-256-4096
Chrissy Faessen (Rock the Vote): chrissy@rockthevote.com, 202-368-1706

Young Americans continue push for health care reform on Hill, hail inclusion of key provision in House bill

Coalition of over 20 youth organizations announce major policy victory, release health care policy agenda, and spend day lobbying key Senators and Representatives in Washington, DC

Washington, DC – Young Americans from 30 states are on Capitol Hill today to continue the push for comprehensive health care reform. Y.I. Want Change, a national coalition of over 20 youth organizations representing millions of young Americans, organized the lobby day. In addition to bringing young people to the Hill today, the Y.I. Want Change coalition released its policy agenda and announced with Speaker Pelosi and Representatives Van Hollen and Dahlkemper a major policy victory for young people that will be included in the final House bill: a provision allowing young Americans to stay on their parents’ insurance through the age of 26.

“Speaker Pelosi and Representatives Dahlkemper and Van Hollen’s leadership on this key provision – and other important pieces like the public option and strong anti-discrimination language – is a testament to the House’s commitment to provide health care coverage that is affordable, competitive, continuous, comprehensive and fair for young Americans,” said Heather Smith, President of Rock the Vote. “We are going to take the momentum from this day and work with the House and Senate to ensure the remainder of our policy priorities are incorporated into the final legislation.”

“Young people have fought all summer to have our voices heard in this debate, and Congress is listening,” said Erica Williams, Deputy Director of Campus Progress. “The health care crisis is young America’s crisis. Affordability, not invincibility, is the reason young people don’t have health insurance, and we are committed to making quality health care affordable for young Americans.”

In addition to the provision allowing young adults to stay on their parents’ insurance through the age of 26, the Y.I. Want Change coalition is pushing six other policy priorities as part of the Y.I. Care Agenda released today (full details available at www.yiwantchange.org):

o Increasing premium support for low-income Americans and limiting out-of-pocket expenses to ensure that health insurance is affordable;
o Including a public option to provide greater choice for young Americans;
o Ensuring that any “young invincible” plan covers preventative and chronic care and limits out-of-pocket expenses;
o Including funding to provide education and workforce training to young Americans to assist in the transition;
o Ensuring affordable access to health insurance exchanges for all Americans; and
o Ending discrimination in the provision of health insurance.

“Health care reform that is good for young Americans is good for all Americans. That is why these policy priorities must become an integral part of the final legislative package,” said Ari Matusiak, co-founder of Young Invincibles. “The time of leaving people uninsured, unprotected and insecure has passed. The coalition we have convened is the clearest indication yet that health care is an issue all Americans care about. We’re here to tell Washington that it has to act.”

For more information and resources, including a detailed analysis of the Y.I. Want Change policy priorities, please visit www.yiwantchange.org. To speak to coalition spokespeople please contact Rebecca Abou-Chedid at media@younginvincibles.org / 202-256-4096 or Chrissy Faessen at chrissy@rockthevote.com / 202-368-1706.

###
Y.I. Want Change is a national coalition of more than 20 youth organizations and their affiliates, including Advocates for Youth, Black Youth Vote, Bus Federation, Campus Camp Wellstone, Campus Progress, Center for Community Change, Choice USA, College Democrats of America, Daily Get Up, Energy Action Coalition, 80 Million Strong, Forward Montana, Future Majority, Generation WE, Generational Alliance, NAACP Youth and College Division, Rock the Vote, Roosevelt Institution, Student PIRGs, Young Democrats of America, Young Invincibles, and Young People First. For additional information please visit www.yiwantchange.org.

A youth organization has finally got involved in pushing young people's hope for health care reform. Rock the Vote is starting with a

"30 second television spot featuring Scrubs stars Zach Braff and Donald Faison encouraging young Americans to show they care and “demand health care now” by visiting www.rockthevote.com or texting the keyword “HEALTH” to RTVOTE (788683). The ad uses the actors’ roles as “fake doctors” to educate young people about health care reform and demand that “the suits in Washington cover more than just their own asses.”

Braff and Faison’s PSA reinforces to young Americans’ that they have the most to gain – or lose – in health care reform. Americans between the ages of 19 and 29 have the highest uninsured rate of any age group. Nearly 1 in 3 is uninsured. In addition, half of uninsured 19- to 29-year olds work full time, but aren’t covered through their jobs and can’t afford health care because of low wages.

Faison believes that its important Washington listen to young people beyond trying to get themselves elected. Aside from a few select members, he's absolutely correct.

"According to a recent Survey USA poll, 91% of young people ages 18-34 are paying attention to the health care debate and are most supportive of the public option (overall 58% of American say it is “extremely important,” but among 18 to 24 year olds that jumps to 68 percent and 65 percent for 25 to 29 year olds)."

I hope the campaign isn't too late in the game to have a meaningful impact. After a summer filled with teaparty people being the loudest voice it would be great if a similarly loud advocate group could work through the process to connect on a more rational level with elected officials.

• The Kent County GOP has gotten hip to Drinking Liberally and is using a similar model to engage local youth.
• Here's a new iPhone app that will let you track the voting records of elected officials.
• danah boyd answers all the questions you had about teens and social media use.
• Campus Progress has video from their latest panel on Millennial Politics.
• Rock the Vote looks at how credit cards are keeping young people down.
• Roll Call discusses how the passage of Civil Rights was the beginning of the end for the GOP.
• Peter Levine critiques the White House Office of Public Engagement.
• Do Young Folks Need Celebrities To Tell Them How To Vote?

Lots of stuff today hitting on the relationship between technology and democracy. Enjoy!

• Sam Stein details the rise of thirteen year old Jonathan Krohn, the latest excuse for the GOP to not have to do anything to court the youth vote. Check him out here.
• Micah Sifry's post on the complexity of user rights on Facebook.
• At tech President, Nancy Scola examines the governing tension inherent in Facebook's relationship with its users and vice versa.
• Adam Green argues that Facebook, in order to become the ultimate organizing tool, needs to eliminate a few self-imposed barriers first. One of those involves the group mass-email policy.
• More Micah: Sifry examines the larger, philosophical questions regarding the 'net's impact on democracy.
• "Youthanized" is a documentary short from Project Youthanize that examines something which we discuss on this blog quite frequently -- the transition from youth-led, street protest-based activism in the 1960s to youth-led, digitally-inspired activism today.
• Glenn Hurowitz's discussion of the Powershift Conference, focusing on one member of a group of young climate activists that Glenn Beck describes as "Hitler youth," Meg Imholt.
• Rock the Vote announces the premiere of Rock the Vote Radio -- a weekly 30 minute, roundtable discussion centered on politics and current affairs, with a rotating panel of young adults. Check it out!
• More testimony to the "parasitic nature" of student loans.
• Rev. Lennox Yearwood sounds a call for action among America's youth, given the increased importance in governance over elections. I wish Tom Friedman sounded more like this.
• Where is Obama's CTO? A Politico article asks the question and searches for the answer.
• Mayor Daley of Chicago has a YouTube channel.