Rock The Vote Hosts Drive To Register Young Voters

In an attempt to engage young voters in the political process, Rock the Vote (RTV) hosted a voter registration drive at CambridgeSide Galleria Monday afternoon.

Following a number of “attacks on freedom of speech and artistic expression,” members of the recording industry founded RTV in 1990, according to the official website. The nonpartisan, non-profit organization launched its five-month bus tour this June to take its message of civic engagement across the nation.

Rock the Vote, in conjunction with such organizations as Harvard’s Institute of Politics, Young Democrats of America, MTV Choose or Lose, and the Democratic Leadership for the 21st Century helped organize the effort, said program assistant Aaron H. Teeter.

The 45-foot-long bus, stationed by the mall, drew a handful of would-be shoppers lured by the prospect of free goodies, courtesy of sponsors Sunkist, Cingular, Wireless and Motorola. Among the grab-bag of assorted items were pins, stickers and temporary tattoos bearing the Rock the Vote logo. And some volunteers, manning two booths set up outside, welcomed questions from prospective registrants.

RTV hopes to inspire the 18 to 30 demographic to get involved in the political process, volunteer and Emerson College student Jamal A. Barone said.

“As much as we complain about our president, we need to make a change and go out to vote,” he said. “It’s important to register because our voice does matter.”

Rock the Vote employees also characterized voting as a responsibility.

“Beyond it being a civic obligation and how our society works, you can’t complain if you didn’t partake in the voting process,” program assistant Aaron H. Teeter said, noting that the youth vote constitutes a “major voting bloc.”

Clad in a black “fcuk you, I’m voting” t-shirt, straw hat nesting comfortably atop his head and megaphone slung under his arm, production assistant James L. Granger ’05 explained the importance of the youth vote, citing the “downward spiral of political engagement” as one reason to motivate youth involvement.

In the last election, Granger said, 33 percent of young people voted, around 20 percentage points lower than everyone else in the nation.

And if current stats are any indication, the Rock the Vote Bus Tour has managed to attract 2,729 people to register since its June 16 kick-off in Los Angeles, said national tour bus manager Lindsay Berman.

CambridgeSide Galleria, she said, marked the bus’ 53rd pitstop of over 90 planned stops. The tour will go through Election Day on Nov. 2, she added.

The registration drive snagged around 40 registrants over the span of two hours, Rock the Vote employee Brandy N. Chappelle said.

For some, the drive signaled a prime learning opportunity.

Ben K. Sanoff, a camp counselor from Cambridge Day Camp, brought a group of 14-year olds—clipboards in hand—along as part of an activity.

“To coincide with elections, we’re doing an awareness activity about voting,” he said, noting that his kids came prepped with a set of questions.

The activity, he said, also hoped to convey the importance of the youth vote, as well as the sway that “people of color” had.

Eighteen-year-old Douglas G. Ebenal admitted that while he was already planning on registering, the fact that he was personally asked to do so expedited the process.

As for who he intends to vote for come November, Ebenal placed his support behind President Bush.

“I plan on enlisting in the Marine Corps, and I would rather see Bush as Commander in Chief than Kerry,” he said.

And while Rock the Vote targets the youth vote, the drive attracted several parents who awaited the opportunity to cast their vote in the upcoming election.

Youssef El-Mejjasy, a Massachusetts resident of five years who emigrated from Morocco, said that this election would his first.

“I feel my decision will make a difference,” he said.

He plans to support Nader, El-Mejjjasy said.

“The Democrats and the Republicans come up with the same stuff,” he said. “I don’t feel a difference with the way they deal...with political life.”

And for some, pitching in the Rock the Vote registration drive will prove to be the closest one can get to participating in the election.

Katie E. Kinsey, a senior in high school and volunteer for Rock the Vote, ruefully confessed that she turns 18 this January, three months shy of Election Day. “I’m trying to live vicariously through others, I guess,” she said. “This makes it better, knowing that others are going to vote.”

—Staff writer Margaret W. Ho can be reached at mwho@fas.harvard.edu.