Did you know? In 2006,young voter turnout increased for the second election in a row-2 million more 18-29 Y old voted.
Did you know? In 2004, youth voters (18-24) had the largest percentage of voter turnount increase from 2000 election.
Did you know? A fall 2007 poll finds the top issues of young adults in the 2008 election are economy, educ., Iraq & health care.
Did you know? Check out SYV!'s updated 18-30 Voter Issues Paper.

Sen. Clinton Responds To Smackdown Your Vote!® Issues Paper

STAMFORD, Conn., May 12, 2008 – Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Clinton believes the greatest potential for new jobs for younger voters lies in alternative energy, innovation, and infrastructure and public sector jobs, according to her responses to WWE®’s Smackdown Your Vote! 18-30 Voter Issues Paper (VIP).  The Smackdown Your Vote! initiative has encouraged millions of young adults to vote in federal, state and local elections.

To read the full press release, please click here.
To read Sen. Clinton's response to the 18-30 VIP, please click here.

Young Voter Turnout 2008 - Primaries and Caucuses

The 2008 elections are shaping up to be the year of the young voter. After big increases in young voter turnout in 2004 and 2006, many skeptics wondered if the momentum would continue into 2008.The answer is a resounding yes. The number of 18-29 year old voters has increased in every state!s primary or caucus so far in 2008, even doubling and tripling in several. Overall, the number of 18-29 year olds voting in primaries and caucuses in 2008 is 109% more than in the previous set of primary elections. To read the full fact sheet, please click here.

WWE® Asks Presidential Candidates To Address The Issues

WWE’s Smackdown Your Vote! today released the 2008 18-30 Voter Issues Paper (VIP), a guide to help young adults articulate the issues important to them in this national election, and a platform through which the candidates can provide their responses to issues important to this voting demographic. The 18-30 VIP addresses the economy, Iraq war, education, health care, and the environment as the most important issues on the minds of young voters.  More on this story...

Winning Young Voters Hanbook Now Available through Rock the Vote

Rock the Vote's latest publication, "Winning Young Voters," is now available on the Rock the Vote website! "Winning Young Voters" is their premier handbook for campaigns, organizations, and political parties interested in mobilizing young voters to win in 2008 and beyond. In this handbook, you'll find:
-Voter registration best practices and tips;
-GOTV best practices and tips;
-Case studies of campaigns that targeted the youth vote and won;
-The latest on young voter demographics and political attitudes..

Watch Clinton, Obama & McCain Fight For Your Vote on Monday Night RAW

On the eve of the Pennsylvania primary, Presidential candidates Sen. Hillary Clinton, Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain each provided taped messages that were aired during Monday Night RAW. Each candidate stated his/her case why they should be elected president. You decide who deserves your vote. Click here to watch the Presidential candidates' messages to WWE fans.

CLINTON, OBAMA MCCAIN FIGHT FOR YOUR VOTE ON "MONDAY NIGHT RAW®" TONIGHT

The night before an important Pennsylvania primary, Presidential candidates Sen. Hillary Clinton, Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain will each make a very special appearance on a three-hour edition of WWE®'s "Monday Night RAW" tonight  on the USA Network starting at 8 p.m. ET.  To read the full press release, please click here.

View Clips of Candidates' Messages

Free Internet Game from Cable in the Classroom Offers Users
Chance to Run Their Own Presidential Campaigns; Provides Multimedia Educational Tool for Schools

As more Americans turn their attention to the race for the White House and the Pennsylvania primary next week, an online learning game – new and improved for 2008 – lets players call the political shots in presidential campaigning. The 2008 eLECTIONS: Your Adventure in Politics game was released this week by Cable in the Classroom (CIC).
 
The 3-D, high-speed broadband adventure uses interactive tools allowing kids and adults to experience a self-directed run for the U.S. Presidency. The game, originally launched by CIC in 2004 and refreshed for 2008, is designed to educate people about the political process and the power of one vote. To read the full press release, please click here.

Mick Foley Panelist at Youth & Government Forum

WWE Superstar Mick Foley participated on behalf of WWE’s Smackdown Your Vote! program in the 7th annual Youth & Government Forum held last Friday at Keystone College in Clarks Summit, Penn.  Mick was invited by Penn. Representative Jim Wansacz who hosted the event. Mick sat on panels that included Congressman Chris Carney, Rep. Wansacz, Carbondale Mayor Justin Carbondale and Lackawanna County Commissioner Corey O’Brien.  The panelists fielded questions from more than 150 local high school students covering a wide range of topics including the presidential election, international funding for Darfur, the economy and the Iraq war. Mick provided personal reflections on his own participation in the political process stating that he became frustrated and then fascinated with politics in 2002.  When speaking about his own interest in funding impoverished areas in the world, Mick stated, “Sometimes I am an optimist.  If we can make people aware, we can make a difference.  If I go out there, people will react in a way that is good.”

WWE Superstars lead Smackdown Your Vote! rally in Phoenix

PHOENIX — As Lilian Garcia walked onto the St. Mary’s Catholic High School Wiegand Auditorium stage, she was greeted with thunderous cheers. That applause is oftentimes reserved for when the multifaceted Diva is welcoming our fans to an edition of Monday Night Raw or performing tunes from her ¡Quiero Vivir! album. St. Mary’s senior class, especially the males, took notice of the sultry ring announcer. But, on this day, the majority of the students were pumped about the prospects of making an impact on the 2008 presidential election. To read the full story, please click here.

Read Rock the Vote's Polling Young Voters

Check out the latest Polling Young Voters from Rock the Vote. Taking the under-30 or under-35 results from respected national polls, Rock the Vote compiles this information on a monthly basis providing what young voters are thinking this election cycle.

Also – keep an eye out for upcoming new young voter research from Rock the Vote! They will be releasing the results of a new Rock the Vote poll of 18-29 year olds’ political attitudes and top issues, the first post-Super Tuesday poll of young adults. Stay tuned!

Young Voters Doubled, Tripled and Quadrupled Turnout Last Night (Feb. 5)

WASHINGTON – February 6, 2008 – Young people flooded the polls yesterday to pick the next President of the United States. In more than 20 states across the nation, young voters turned out in record-breaking numbers at primaries and caucuses on Super Tuesday. Young voters have proven they are the driving force behind the 2008 Presidential election and are setting the stage for November 2008 to be the historic third election in a row with increased young voter turnout. To read the full press release, please click here.

Smackdown Your Vote! on Super Tuesday on Feb. 5

On what is being dubbed "Super Tuesday" voters will take to the polls in 22 states on Tuesday, February 5. To find out if your state is part of the "Super Tuesday" states please click here. Make your voice heard and Smackdown Your Vote!

Florida Youth Voter Turnout Triples; 286,000 Florida Citizens Under the Age of Thirty Participate in Primary

Washington, DC - 13 percent of eligible Florida citizens under the age of 30 participated in last night’s Florida primary, according to preliminary estimates by CIRCLE (The Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning & Engagement). More than 150,000 young people participated in the Florida Democratic primary, despite the fact that the Democratic primary was not fully contested (see Table 2.) To read the full press release, please click here.

Youth Turnout Rises in South Carolina Primary; 118,000 South Carolina Citizens Under the Age of Thirty Participate in Primary

Washington, DC - 19 percent of eligible South Carolina citizens under the age of 30
participated in the South Carolina primaries, according to preliminary analysis by CIRCLE (The Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning & Engagement). The primaries attracted an estimated 120,000 young voters to the polls. To read the full press release, please click here.

New Hampshire Youth Turnout Rises Sharply; 84,000 of New Hampshire Citizens Under the Age of Thirty Participate in Primary

Washington, DC - 43 percent of eligible New Hampshire citizens under the age of 30
participated in last night’s New Hampshire primary, according to preliminary analysis by CIRCLE (The Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning & Engagement). The youth turnout rate rose sharply to 43 percent in 2008 compared to 18 percent in 2004 and 28 percent in 2000. Young people increased their turnout more than the older age group. The youth turnout rate increased by 15 percentage points over 2000 while the turnout rate for those ages 30 and above increased by only six percentage points. To read the full press release, please click here.

Revised Estimates Show Higher Turnout than Expected;Iowa Youth Turnout Rate More than Triples; 65,000 Iowans under the Age of Thirty Participate in the Caucuses

Washington, DC – Thirteen percent of eligible Iowans under the age of 30 participated in Iowa caucuses, according to preliminary analysis by CIRCLE (The Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning & Engagement). The youth turnout rate rose to 13 percent in 2008 from 4 percent in 2004 and 3 percent in 2000. Young voters expanded as a proportion of all caucus-goers, and the total number of Iowans who caucused grew, producing the three-fold increase in youth participation. Youth supported both winners—Senator Barack Obama (D) and Governor Mike Huckabee (R)—by the largest margins of any age group. To read the full release, please click here.

Smackdown Your Vote!® And Rock The Vote Tag Team In ‘Rock The Caucus’ Effort

World Wrestling Entertainment®’s Smackdown Your Vote! is teaming up with Rock the Vote to support its “Rock the Caucus” initiative in Iowa. WWE® is using the star power of its Superstars to urge Iowa high school students of voting age to get active and make their voices heard by attending either the Democratic or Republican Caucus on Thursday, January 3, 2008. To read the full press release, click here.

It's Time to Rock the Iowa Caucus on January 3, 2008!

Attention all Iowa voters or soon to be voters: Attend either the Republican or Democratic Caucus in Iowa on Thursday, January 3, 2008, and Rock the Caucus!
Imagine if more of Iowa’s youngest voters turned out to caucus, if you and all your friends caucused, if all your friends’ friends caucused; young people could take credit for stepping out and really shake things up. You better believe that the issues young people care about would be on the top of the agenda of the new Republican and Democratic nominees if young adults took time to take it to the caucuses; it’s time to Rock the Caucus!

Spread the word...Download Rock the Caucus flyers from WWE Smackdown Your Vote! and Rock the Vote to post at your school.

View the Rock the Caucus PSA featuring Mr. Kennedy.

What to Know Before You Go:
1) If you’re 17 years old you can caucus, so long as you’ll be 18 by or on November 4, 2008.

2) You don’t have to register to vote before hand; you can register at the caucus.

3) Be sure to arrive early to avoid long lines and make sure you’re in before doors close. In order to have your vote count you must be in line by the time the caucus is called to order.

The Democratic Caucus starts at 6:30p.m.
The Republican Caucus starts at 7:00p.m.

Rock the Vote Media Briefing Paper Available

Rock the Vote has put out a new media briefing paper, Young Voter Myths and Facts, which contains basic voter turnout statistics for 18-29 year olds, information on some common misconceptions about the youth vote, and the latest young voter polling in early primary and caucus states – Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina – and nationwide. Get the facts by checking out the briefing paper.

Poll by Rock the Vote, Smackdown Your Vote! and Sacred Heart University Garners Media Attention

The recent poll released by Rock the Vote, Smackdown Your Vote! and Sacred Heart University is garnering media attention by such sites as Politico.com and The Hartford Courant and was noted in a Washington Times article. Check it out!

New Poll: 18-30-Year-Olds to Play Major Role in 2008 Elections Driven by Concerns Over Iraq and Health Care

Washington, D.C. – Eighteen- to 30-year-old voters turned out in large numbers for elections in 2004 and 2006 – and according to a new nationwide poll from Rock the Vote, WWE®’s Smackdown Your Vote!®, and Sacred Heart University, that trend is likely to continue in 2008 as younger voters go to the polls motivated by concerns over the war in Iraq, health care, the economy, and the cost of education. To read the full press release, please click here.

CIRCLE Issues Voter Registration Among Young People Report

The voter registration rate in presidential elections among young people reached its highest level in thirty years in 2004. Seventy percent of young people, ages 18-29, said they were registered to vote in the 2004 Presidential election, according to analysis of the Current Population Survey, November (Voting) Supplement. This rise in registration rates is promising for the youth vote since registering to vote is sometimes more difficult than the act of voting itself. This fact sheet also contains information on how citizens register to vote and, if they do not register to vote, the reasons why some do not register to vote. Read Voter Registration Among Young People.

CIRCLE Fact Sheets on 2006 Voter Turnout Available

CIRCLE (The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement) promotes research on the civic and political engagement of Americans between the ages of 15 and 25. Although CIRCLE conducts and funds research, not practice, the projects that they support have practical implications for those who work to increase young people’s engagement in politics and civic life. CIRCLE is also a clearinghouse for relevant information and scholarship. Check out the fact sheets below on voter turnout.

Youth Voter Turnout Increases in 2006: http://www.civicyouth.org/?p=168
Quick Facts About Young Voters by State: The Midterm Election Year 2006: http://www.civicyouth.org/?p=169
Quick Facts About Young Voters by Metropolitan Area: The Midterm Election Year 2006: http://www.civicyouth.org/?p=196
Young Urban Voters in The Midterm Election Year 2006: http://www.civicyouth.org/?p=195
The Youth Vote 2004: http://www.civicyouth.org/?p=8

WWE Superstar Val Venis Hosts Own Show Talking Politics

Sean Morely, better known to WWE fans as Raw Superstar Val Venis, is hosting his own call-in show with all talk politics! Click here to see what issues facing this country Sean plans to tackle next on his show! Tune-in and call-in!

WHAT IS SYV!?

What is Smackdown Your Vote!?

WWE's Smackdown Your Vote! is an "apartisan" campaign to encourage young people to become active participants in their democracy and vote. Working with several non-partisan partners and the major political parties, WWE and its Superstars have the sole focus of encouraging more young people to register and vote, and to have more candidates for political office address the credible issues of Americans under 30. Smackdown Your Vote!, along with eight other organizations, has issued the first joint national voter issues paper for 18-to-30-year-olds in America.

WWE 24/7 Rolls Out Exclusive Broadband Content for Operators to Deliver Tech-Savvy Interactive Fans

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., April 5, 2005 - World Wrestling Entertainment® announced at the National Cable Television Association's annual show here that it is rolling out free, exclusive broadband content for affiliates to both promote WWE 24/7, its new Subscription Video On-Demand (SVOD) service, and assist them in selling more high-speed modems and connectivity. More on this story...