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November 14, 2005
List of US Mobilization Organizations
This document lists organizations in the US who conduct sizeable mobilization efforts.
America Coming Together
These guys were huge before the ’04 election and have since shrunk. But they’re still around and kicking. Progressive organization focusing on the battleground states. Claims to have reached over 4.2 million voters on 04 election day.
http://acthere.com
America Votes
Is a coalition of the larger progressive GOTV organizations. Many of these organizations focus on issues other than GOTV.
http://americavotes.org
ACORN
Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now
Progressive organization focused on lower income families – providing social justice and community work. 175,000 member families. Registered 1million voters in 2004. Also works on many other community focused initiatives/policy/advocacy.
http://americavotes.org
Declare Yourself
Nonpartisan campaign started in 2004 focused around youth mobilization. Claim to have registered 1 million young and first time voters prior to 04 election via the DY spoken word and music tour, high school program, and related campaigns. Founded by Norman Lear. Did some great post-election research on the youth constituency.
http://www.declareyourself.com/
Democracy For America
Progressive organization inspired by the Dean campaign (and run by Howard Dean’s brother, James). A political action committee dedicated to supporting fiscally responsible, socially progressive candidates at all office levels. Long term goal of rebuilding the Dem party.
http://www.democracyforamerica.com
Emily’s List
Grassroots progressive political network started by Ellen Malcolm, who also was (is?) president of ACT. Focuses on electing pro-choice women to office and turning out women voters. 100K membership.
http://www.emilyslist.org
Hip Hop Summit Action Network / Hip Hop Vote Team
Harnessing cultural relevance of hip hop music to serve as a catalyst for advocacy. Prior to 04 election had a hip-hop vote team – which sought to register voters at concerts – giving tickets away to those who register.
http://www.hsan.org
League of Conservation Voters
Environment focused political action. Campaigns to defeat anti-environment candidates and to promote the opposite. Campaigns to educate voters on the environment records of candidates.
http://www.lcv.org/
League of Women Voters
Leagues in 50 states, 900 state and local Leagues - non partisan – aiming to influence policy through advocacy.
http://www.lwv.org
Music for America
Started in 2003 focusing on peer to peer political action – through music. Puts on shows across the country – over 200 bands, 2000 shows/year with the stated purpose of delivering a positive social message.
http://www.musicforamerica.org/
MTV’s Choose or Lose
Youth focused organization doing lots of work prior to 04 election. Partnered with Rock the Vote. Doesn’t seem to be doing much post ’04 election.
http://www.mtv.com/chooseorlose/
NAACP National Voter Fund
Mission is to engage in issue advocacy, educate voters on candidates stands on civil rights, and increase voter turnout among African Americans. Non partisan.
http://www.naacpnvf.org
New Voters Project
A non partisan effort to register young people and to GOTV. Launched in 2003 – did some amazing work before the ’04 election. Became one of the largest grassroots mobilization efforts – increasing turnout by 11% - registered 350K 18-24yr olds. Focused on 8 states. Even better, they did some exhaustive research on their efforts – showing what worked and what didn’t. Founded by the State PIRGs – a network of state-based citizen funded organizations that advocate for the public interest.
http://www.newvotersproject.org/
Rock the Vote
One of the big youth-focused mobilization organizations. Did a lot of work prior to 04 and did it very well. Integrated text messaging into their voter registration/mobilization campaign (by sending text alerts and URLs of web site where user could download forms). Incorporates entertainment and youth culture into its activities.
http://www.rockthevote.com/
Smackdown your Vote
Wrestling’s answer to voter mobilization.
http://vote.wwe.com/
USAction
Progressive organization working on many fronts – of which mobilization is one.
http://www.usaction.org
Voto Latino
Non partisan, youth driven org to create a unified voice for Latino youth.
http://www.votolatino.org
Voices for Working Families
Focused on getting working families – people of color, women, and youth out to vote. Tries to reach out to these people via multi-pronged canvassing efforts. Hip-hop focused campaign called “I am hip hop. I am VOTE” running at historically black colleges. Also has a women-specific campaign.
http://www.voicesforworkingfamilies.org
Young Democrats of America
Youth arm of the democratic party. Nationwide organization with 43,000 members. Runs lots of programs to elect dem candidates, train youth. Aims to stimulate youth participation in the Dem party (18-36yr olds).
http://www.yda.org/
Posted by ben at 07:25 PM | Comments (0)
November 08, 2005
Video Podcasting the Elections ...
Happy Election Day! Hopefully if you're reading this from either California or Ohio you're either voting or already voted earlier today.
I voted absentee ballot this time, which I thought would give me more
time to research the initiatives in depth, but I really got hung up on Prop. 80. 80 involves reregulating the California's energy market, and if you've read or watched "The Smartest Guys In the Room" you know what a mess the energy situation is out here.
You can always count on your local PBS affiliate to produce thought provoking, well rounded analysis of local ballot propositions. Usually they'll invite a panel of experts with varying opinions on the different initiatives into their studios. The time constraints of half hour or hour shows forces guests to be concise - the possibility of being immediately challenged on anything they say forces them to tell the truth.
Unfortunately, on the afternoon I'd set aside to vote the only thing our PBS affiliate was airing was reruns of 'Sesame Street' - actually I recognized the episode as one I'd watched back when I was a kid, which was a long time ago, and it looked old back then!
As a former TV producer, I actually think that TV is a fairly efficient way of distributing information. I did a google search for video clips for different ballet propositions and the only thing I could find was this website which was created by the League of Women Voters and the California Channel - a state channel created by the cable industry.
And then it hit me - somebody should license cheap local programming explaining local ballot issues and make it available as a video podcast. Or they could shoot it themselves. That way you could watch the podcast while you are reviewing your ballot, or at the gym, or on your commute home. Or you could lend it to a friend. And viewers could easily skim through issues or replay them later.
In any case something to think about for next year ...
Posted by Bart Cheever at 07:01 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 02, 2005
Web/Internet & the 2004 Elections: Mobile Presage?
I recently came across a series of articles/studies conducted by the Pew Internet & American Life Project about internet (Web) usage in the 2004 campaign. The conclusion of these studies: the internet had a big impact. Uh huh.
It doesn’t seem like 2004 was that long ago – it's so plainly obvious now - but the conclusion of these studies makes it evident that there was a question as to the efficacy of the Web in political campaigns prior to ’04.
And then I had lunch with some folks today and we were talking about the boom years in SF – when the first URLs were printed on billboards on 101 and DJs started asking people to visit their Web sites: the halcyon Web wonder years.
Of course, mobile feels a lot like the Web in ’96 – and, politically, it seems to be in a similar moment. Voters in 2008 are 15 years old today. They’ve grown up with SMS. They use it as genY uses email. So, clearly, at some point, there will be a study that says “mobile phones and SMS had a big impact on the election.” It’ll probably be in the Fall of 2008, but not too many people have yet come to this realization.
I thought it might be illuminating to browse through highlights of these Pew Internet articles – looking for similarities – looking for trends that might play out again in future elections (see review below). Of course, it won’t play out the same way – mobile being quite a different medium – but it will play out – and the savvy early adopters will gain some advantages as Dean did. Of course, they’ve got to capitalize on the advantages (as Dean didn’t).
Pew Internet Campaign 2004 Hightlights:
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In 2004 75 million Americans (37% of the adult population and 61% of online Americans)used internet to get news, discuss candidates, and participate in the political process.
18% said that internet was primary src of political news.
http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/150/report_display.asp
Pew/Internet Survey
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“internet has become an essential medium of American politics”
Dean innovated via campaign manager Joe Trippi. Five core innovations:
1. news-pegged fundraising appeals. Taking cues from Moveon.org. Gives quick results to donors, generates media.
2. meetups & net organized gatherings
3. blogging. Creates social bonding and grassroots organizing
4. online referenda – asking the constituency what they want – a tool to engage public support
5. decentralized decision-making. “you have the power.” Left local supporters to campaign as they saw fit.
Dean’s early success showed “political professionals that henceforth they had to take the internet seriously.”
2004 national conventions were first in which pres candidates showed their acceptance speeches via the web.
Jibjab’s cartoon “this land” drew over 10 million unique visitors in july alone. Illustrated utility of web videos as campaign tools. Use web to test videos before ad buys, to raise money to do the ad buy, attract attention.
Bush used internet primarily to grass roots organize and mobilize. Kerry to fundraise.
Internet made a difference in 2004 race. “the numbers of adult Americans who relied on the internet to learn about the campaigns, to help make up their minds, to help others make up theirs, and to register and vote is simply too large relative to the final margin to think otherwise.”
The internet and campaign 2004
Commentary by Michael Cornfield
http://www.pewinternet.org/pdfs/Cornfield_commentary.pdf
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“the internet contributes to a wider awareness of political arguments. Fears that use of the internet might hurt healthy democratic deliberation are not borne out by online behavior”
internet users will have greater exposure to arguments that challenge their views
Pew/Internet
The internet and the democratic debate. 10.27.2004
http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/141/report_display.asp
Posted by ben at 04:52 PM | Comments (0)