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.