Harvard’s Institute of Politics Launches New Online Effort to Boost Youth Voting in ’08 Primaries

Cambridge, MA — Harvard’s Institute of Politics (IOP) today announced the launch of a new web-based initiative, “No Vote, No Voice,” aimed at increasing youth turnout at the polls, particularly during the 2008 presidential primaries.  The project’s homepage, http://www.novotenovoice.com, will offer ways for young people to register to vote and get news and information about the candidates and campaigns of the 2008 presidential primary process. 

A key component of the “No Vote, No Voice” project is a Facebook.com application young people can download to their online profiles.  Using the application, youth who “pledge” to vote in an upcoming presidential primary or caucus will be sent important state-specific voting deadline reminders to their Facebook.com page, including those for registering to vote and sending in an absentee ballot. 

Navigating the logistics of where and how to vote can be confusing, particularly for those who have never voted before or who choose to vote by absentee ballot.  Intended to be an easy-to-navigate voter education web portal, http://www.novotenovoice.com will offer — all in one place — links to voter information and registration websites to help first-time voters.  For example, a visitor to the “No Vote, No Voice” homepage can quickly learn more about presidential candidates and their positions on various issues via a searchable website (http://www.votegopher.com), find youth-oriented news and perspective on the 2008 race, and get links to candidate websites if interested in volunteering on a presidential campaign.  Additionally, the website will offer a selection of video clips from inspirational speeches given by political leaders over the past several decades. 

“The most glaring weakness of American democracy is the primary process where candidates are chosen and platforms established,” said IOP Director and former U.S. Representative (R-IA) James A. Leach.  “Americans like choice and the chance to participate in decision-making, but the irony is that the vast majority of citizens have left to a narrow few the responsibility of choosing who will represent the political parties in general elections.  College is about preparing for the future, but citizenship can’t be put off.”

Although younger voter turnout has — like the rest of the electorate — traditionally been much lower in primaries and caucuses than in general elections, in 2000 and 2004 youth turnout in general elections increased markedly and the “No Vote, No Voice” project is part of the Institute’s effort to expand youth participation at the beginning as well as the end of the electoral process.  

While older voters have a history of voting in higher percentages than young voters, exit polls indicate that during the 2004 presidential election the 18-29 year-old demographic group cast in total slightly more votes than seniors aged 65 and older.

Young people who forward the Facebook.com application and encourage their friends to vote will be automatically entered to win weekly prizes including gift cards and an Apple iPod “Touch.” All eligible participants will also be entered to win the “No Vote, No Voice” grand prize, an all-expenses paid trip for two to watch a taping of Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report” in New York City in the Spring of 2008. 

The Institute is also inviting young people to create their own original or mashup video showing “Why Voting Matters,” and upload the video to the “No Vote, No Voice” YouTube.com channel (http://www.youtube.com/group/novotenovoice).  Submitted videos will be played on the channel until the conclusion of the contest period (February 15, 2008), and the creator of the best video will receive an Apple iPod “Touch.”

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Harvard University’s Institute of Politics (IOP), located at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, was established in 1966 as a memorial to President Kennedy.  The IOP’s mission is to unite and engage students, particularly undergraduates, with academics, politicians, activists, and policymakers on a non-partisan basis and to stimulate and nurture their interest in public service and leadership.  The Institute strives to promote greater understanding and cooperation between the academic world and the world of politics and public affairs.  More information is available online at www.iop.harvard.edu/.

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