Rock the Vote - Heather Smith

More 18-29-year-old voters are turning up at the polls, ending a 30 year downward trend. In 2004, there were 4.3 million more youth voters than in 2000. Younger voters continued to exercise their right in 2006, showing a 1.9 million increase compared with 2002 levels. While Generation “X” earned a reputation for being politically disconnected, Generation “Next” is engaged. We visited with Heather Smith, executive director of Rock the Vote, who discusses these developments.

Meet Heather
Heather Smith is executive director of Rock the Vote and previously headed Young Voter Strategies, a center for research on young voters that promotes youth voter turnout. In this interview, Heather discusses the intentional targeting of young voters by current political campaigns that has increased the youth voter turnout.

About Rock the Vote
Rock the Vote is a non-profit, non-partisan organization, founded in 1990 in response to a wave of attacks on freedom of speech and artistic expression.

Rock the Vote mobilizes young people to create positive social and political change in their lives and communities. The goal of Rock the Vote’s media campaigns and street team activities is to increase youth voter turnout. Rock the Vote coordinates voter registration drives, get-out-the-vote events, and voter education efforts, all with the intention of ensuring that young people take advantage of their right to vote.

The Interview

Why was Rock The Vote Founded?