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.

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Rock the Vote is seeking State Coordinators to manage its aggressive voter registration, volunteer, high school civics, and get-out-the-vote programs in each of our targeted states. The State Coordinator will lead RTV’s statewide efforts and oversee on-the-ground activities and volunteers in five states: Colorado, Florida, North Carolina, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

Qualified candidates should have experience working on political or issue campaigns, training and working with young volunteers, and implementing volunteer management systems. Strong candidates will also display online organizing skills. S/he should have campaign-based management experience, superb written and inter-personal communication skills, and be passionate about using new technologies along with traditional techniques to organize and turn out young voters.

This position runs through the end of the 2010 campaign cycle and all candidates must be available to be in DC for a mandatory training the week of May 3rd.

Position Responsibilities:

• Help develop a state-specific field plan
• Recruit, train, organize and support volunteer “Street Teams” in target areas
• Coordinate and manage voter registration events, including identifying local concerts and other youth-dense events for targeted activities
• Comply with reporting system and provide timely reports to the Field Director
• Identify opportunities, schedule and teach RTV’s high school civics program – Democracy Class
• Outreach to potential online voter registration partners
• Attend partner meetings and coordinate on voter registration (online and on-the-ground) and get-out-the-vote
• Place PSAs at local radio and TV stations and act as local media spokesperson
• Contribute regularly to the RTV blog
• Work with new, non-traditional partners to engage and empower specific demographics

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree.
• At least one cycle of political or grassroots organizing experience.
• Experience working with people, managing and training volunteers, and developing creative organizing tactics.
• Knowledge of and/or experience working in political and/or advocacy organizations.
• Proven and highly effective organizational and written/oral communication skills.
• Ability to multitask and shift priorities; aptitude for working under tight deadlines
• Commitment to the organizational mission and ideology in order to effectively promote and advance the goals of Rock the Vote.
• Desire to reach out to and mobilize new and creative partners.
• Ability to work autonomously in your state while still collaborating with a national team and being held to metric-based goals.

Reports to:

National Field Director

To Apply:

Please send resume, cover letter, and three references to jobs@rockthevote.com. Please include “State Coordinator” in the subject line. Please indicate what state or states you are interested in working.

Rock the Vote is an equal opportunity employer. Women, people of color, LGBT people and others are strongly encouraged to apply.

Posting on RTV site

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Rock the Vote is running a contest to design a shirt for their campaign for health insurance reform.

Entries are due by August 28 and will be judged by a celebrity panel featuring N*E*R*D, Andrew W.K., DJ Skee and Chester French.

The top 5 designs will be voted on by online visitors and the winning shirt will be available for purchase in the RTV store and designer will receive a prize pack.

The contest page has design resources such as RTV and campaign logos and links to design resources.

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I just posted an article on Future Majority about the video game strategies of Rock the Vote and the Obama campaign. Check it out.

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Rock the Vote has unveiled its new Go Mobile site at http://www.rockthevote.com/act-out/gomobile/.

You can also text VOTE to RTVOTE (788683) to sign up for SMS updates from Rock the Vote.

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Sign the letter at http://rockthevote.com/act-out/letter2008/

Dear Senator Obama & Senator McCain,

This general election is on course to see the highest young voter turnout ever. And young people are now poised to be decisive in choosing the winner in November.

As a generation, we recognize the power we have to create real change, and we are prepared to use it. We are fighting for our country, involved in our communities, and voting. And this is just the beginning.

We call on each of you to address our needs and our hopes for our country by living up to the values at the core of our democracy and addressing the issues that young people care about most: a more democratic and open society, and a better future with more opportunity for all.

We, the undersigned, have committed that in order to earn our votes, a Presidential candidate must not only support these values, but also lay out specific plans to address the most pertinent issues affecting the future of our generation, including:

• Equal Opportunity: The right for all young people to succeed in our country, including an affordable high-quality education, fair wages and equal access to health care for all Americans.
• Sustainability: The right to live on a sustainable planet without the constant threat of violence in our own communities and those around the world, including significant measures to address global warming, the war in Iraq and international human rights violations.
• Freedom of Expression: The right to express ourselves artistically and politically without undue censorship – online and off—and protest against our government.
• Equal Representation: The right to equal representation in our democracy and the protection of young people’s right to vote without unnecessary restrictions.
• Tolerance: The right to live in a society that does not discriminate based on race, sexual orientation, gender, nationality or religion.

We are committed to electing a new president in November who represents us, who fights for us and makes good on his promises after elected.

If you stand with us now we will stand with you at the polls in November. We are ready. Are you ready to Rock the Vote?

Sincerely,

Rock the Vote

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