Motorola helps rock the vote

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	Motorola helps rock the vote	By Anthony Newman, Tuesday 2 March 2004

Phone manufacturer gets involved with 2004 election, targeting youth market.

With the objective of bringing 20 million young adults to the polls in 2004, Rock the Vote (RTV) and Motorola are involved in an effort to excite, educate and engage 18- to 30-year-olds across the United States. Their tool of choice is the mobile handset. The joint effort is called “Rock the Mobile Vote.”

“Partnering with Motorola is a key part of our efforts to drive 20 million youth voters to the polls in November,” said Jehmu Greene, president of Rock the Vote. “For the first time we’re giving young people the opportunity to mobilize their voice in a new way using a very familiar vehicle – the mobile phone. Young voter turnout in 2004 is poised to break records, as the turnout in the Iowa Caucus and New Hampshire primary demonstrated. The new Rock the Mobile Vote campaign hands influential young adults the power to remain politically engaged and connected while-on-the-go.”

For nine months, Motorola and Rock the Vote will take familiar Election Year grassroots efforts, blend them with the power of wireless technology and pop culture, and enable people to opt into the process in new and compelling ways.

Approximately 50 percent of the 18- to 30-year-old market segment own mobile handsets – using them for everything from voice chat to text messaging, picture exchanges, gaming and internet browsing. Now, Motorola and Rock the Vote are placing political perspectives – and the process for participation – in the palm of users' hands. Together, RTV and Motorola are working to create such resources as candidate information centers, election news rooms, polling location information and processes for voters to request registration materials and more.

Rock the Mobile Vote will employ a variety of engagement opportunities. For example, bi-weekly mobile polling questions will take the pulse of 18- to 30-year-olds on top-of-mind topics from education and economics to job creation and the war on terrorism. And, as would be expected of such an effort, a regular feature will ask voters which candidate is most likely to get their vote on Election Day.

To join the Rock the Mobile Vote campaign, visit the web site and take part in a free, simple opt-in process. Following a successful opt-in procedure, consumers will be part of the campaign’s “Get Loud” effort, consisting of regular polling questions sent directly to the participant's mobile handset. A variety of applications will be developed to further engage young Americans in the 2004 election.

These include Get Educated, which uses SMS messaging to supply consumers with regular election updates such as reviews of candidate positions, new endorsements, introduction of new campaign themes and much more. And participants can visit the campaign Web site for more in-depth election information and to track recent polling results to help shape their political views and opinions. Get Moving gives youths the ability to locate the closest polling booth, as well as request a voter registration form, meaning that Rock the Mobile Vote arms young voters with the knowledge and tools to join in the political movement. Finally, Get Free Stuff will provide program participants free ring tone downloads and graphics featuring hot artists associated with Rock the Vote. In addition, participants can also be entered to win giveaways such as Motorola mobile handsets, music and more.

Throughout the Rock the Mobile Vote campaign, additional activities will be unveiled to further engage young adults, including mobile games, a candidate match-maker quiz, Election Day calls, text messages and more.