EMBs and other CVE providers use a
variety of ways to inform and educate voters, particularly to “GOTV” (Get Out
the Vote). The campaigns can be creative, inventive and humorous. EMBs can out-source their non-partisan GOTV
campaigns, opening them up to competition. Designs for the messaging and
slogans for various formats, including posters, post-cards, web-pages,
peer-to-peer text messages (and other digital
and direct voter contact methods) are available on online galleries. For
example, see the American Institute of Graphic
Arts (AIGA) website, which has activated its community of designers across the
US and beyond to Get Out the Vote every four years since 2000.
CVE messages and
activities can take place in public, often during special events – for example,
festivals – where young people mingle. For youth-targeted outreach, CVE
providers might use the International Day of Democracy (15 September), or the
International Day of Youth (12 August), to motivate young voters to engage with
electoral processes.
While most campaigns either
specifically target young and first-time voters, or at least have some
youth-specific elements, it can be difficult to reach the youth of today with
traditional media. Many EMBs and other CVE
providers use a multi-pronged approach – mixing traditional media with social
media and other approaches to reach youth. Having grown up with the
internet, many young people are hard to reach offline, and CVE providers are
increasingly moving into uncharted territory to encourage the youngest members
of the target group.
The U.S. has been running its Rock
the Vote campaign on and off since 1990, funded by youth-focused channel MTV,
featuring celebrity endorsements and an accompanying in-school programs with a
mock election to encourage students to get involved.
