Program Details
The YouthVote.us public web site is a public portal through which youth can learn about the United States government, discuss national issues and connect with their peers and elected officials. Cutting edge resources such as streaming video and interactive presentations coupled with a wide variety of outlets to voice their opinion through, youth are provided with an exciting and intriguing view into the world around them and exposure to the perspectives of their peers and society as a whole.
Inspiring Youth
YouthVote.us understands that it is key not only to inform and engage youth, but to also inspire them to action; to help them understand the crucial role they play in this democracy.
Through an innovative strategy, YouthVote.us not only provides an exciting learning experience, but also provides an avenue for youth to apply the learned materials in a personal way.
Information
The web site provides a wealth of information and the youth are encouraged to discuss all of the content, express their views and ask questions about the information provided.
The placement of "dynamic" content on the website, such as current events, is based on youth feedback, demographics and location. As the needs and interests of youth change, so does their experience on the public web site.
Educational Information
Educational information is embedded in related content, current events and interactive applications throughout the web site as well as arranged by topic.
Current Events
Current events surrounding state or national issues are a staple of the YouthVote.us program. Current events are utilized as the catalysts for conversation, debate and learning.
Bills and Legislation
Bills and legislation are hand-selected based on youth interests and factual summaries explaining the purpose, scope and impact are developed and presented to the youth.
Multiple viewpoints are presented to provide the beginning basis for discussion. Youth may weigh in and voice their opinions. Whenever possible, the sponsor of the bill and/or subject matter experts will be engaged.
Political Party Information
A "home page" within the YouthVote.us community will exist for all political parties participating in the YouthVote.us program.
Engaging Youth
Connecting youth with their peers and initiating discussion is the first step in engaging youth.
Through message boards, moderated chat rooms and other various mediums, discussion and healthy debate are encouraged about any topics that youth feel are important and is of political or social significance.
Voter Registration
YouthVote.us is committed to promoting voter registration on a continuing basis. Directions on how to register as well as registration forms are available for anywhere in the nation. With the wide communication mediums available to YouthVote.us, other tools such as reminders and targeted voter registration advertising will be utilized.
Online Voting Partnership
YouthVote.us also seeks to partner with other web sites frequented by youth through a service called Online Voting Partnership. Service announcements and reminders are sent out jointly to registered members of partner web sites.
Partnering With Educational Institutions
Educational institutions are key to involving youth in the political process as the first point of contact.
YouthVote.us provides a set of services and solutions for educational institutions known as StudentsInDemocracy. The StudentsInDemocracy service provides educational institutions with the essential tools required to provide a fresh approach to civic education and most importantly: inform, engage and inspire youth.
Partnering With Elected Officials
Online Youth Services works with elected officials to provide a platform for youth to interact with their elected officials.
Elected officials may opt to maintain a presence on the YouthVote.us, presenting information about themselves and/or their views. Additionally, YouthVote.us facilitates:
- National Q & A Chat Sessions with Elected Officials
- Q & A Sessions Within the Constituency of an Elected Official
- Live Webcasts with Elected Officials
- Public Polls
- Elected Officials' Participation in Public Discussion Forums on the YouthVote.us web site surrounding current events, local and national.
Working With Like-Minded Organizations
YouthVote.us recognizes the incredible progress already made by current organizations and seeks to further support these organizations.
Organizations, based on their mission, vision and scope, can be listed as a resource for youth. Events held by these organizations, including voter registration campaigns can be listed and advertised through YouthVote.us.
Additionally, YouthVote.us provides youth voter registration kits as a part of a turn-key voter registration program for communities and organizations to utilize.
Ensuring Non-Partisanship
YouthVote.us does not represent nor endorse any entity, including, but not limited to political parties, elected officials or candidates for office. To do this would undermine the very mission and vision of the program. It is YouthVote.us' duty to ensure that
- Information provided for the web site, including but not limited to information provided by political parties, is appropriate for its purpose.
- No political party shall dominate any web site or service that is not intended to portray party-specific information