Washington Week: Student Voices (O)

Facebook enters voter registration effort
By Keith Simmons
Daily Targum (Rutgers)
10/17/2006

(U-WIRE) NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — The Los Angeles-based Rock the Vote — an organization that strives to build political power among young people — is teaming up with online social network, Facebook, to promote voter participation.

Rock the Vote issued a statement that said Facebook users will be able to register to vote online as an extension of the newly launched Election 2006 network — which was launched to give users a political voice.

"Peer-to-peer contact is the most powerful force in politics, and we are excited about giving young people the tools to get involved and engage in their generation online," said Hans Riemer, the political director of Rock the Vote.

In a telephone interview, Riemer indicated that Facebook users will not be able to vote online but will be able to fill out registration forms. These forms must be printed and mailed in.

According to the press release, the "We Will Rock the Vote" page will facilitate the filling out of voter registration forms or changes in address. Facebook users can also invite their friends to register.

"A friend's suggestion is proven to be the most effective way to increase turn out among young voters," Riemer said. "Rock the Vote today launched an innovative way to make this personal contact happen through the Internet on Facebook."

As stated in the press release, Rock the Vote's campaign with Facebook is part of a national effort to register 350,000 young voters.

Figures for the New Jersey voter registration will remain undetermined until the Oct. 17 deadline — so it is unknown if the voter turnout will exceed the 1.4 million voter registration the Rock the Vote organization produced in 2004.

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