Rock the Vote Statement on the Newly Appointed Members of the Presidential Commission on Election Administration

Below is Rock the Vote President Heather Smith’s statement on the announcement of the panel appointed to the Presidential Commission on Election Administration.

We look forward to working closely with each of the new appointees of the Presidential Commission on Election Administration to ensure that the rising electorate’s needs are adequately addressed as part of this process.  And we are heartened to see individuals named that have a proven record of supporting young people’s participation and common sense modernization efforts.

As the commission begins its work, we call on them to not just investigate ways to improve the election day experience but also how our old-school, error-prone, paper-based voter registration system creates many of these election day problems, and no longer meets the needs of the 21st century electorate.

The Millennial Generation comprises 46 million eligible voters between the ages of 18 and 29, the largest and most diverse generation in our country. It is also the most urban, mobile, interconnected and technologically savvy generation in history.  The recommendations from the Presidential Commission on Election Administration must address the changing demographics and characteristics of this rising American generation.

As the nation’s largest non-partisan youth engagement and mobilization organization, Rock the Vote looks forward to working with the new Commissioners to pave a course for improving the election day experience and providing greater opportunity for young people, and all Americans, to participate in our nation’s democracy.”


About Rock the Vote
Rock the Vote’s mission is to engage and build political power for young people in our country.  Rock the Vote works with artists and musicians to engage young people in the political process. Over the last two decades, Rock the Vote has registered more young people to vote than any other organization or campaign, including more than a million people in 2012’s elections, and has become the best-informed place online where young people can find out what they need to know before casting a ballot.

After years of declining participation at the polls, a new generation of young voters has arrived.  Rock the Vote is dedicated to building the political power and clout of this Millennial Generation by registering and turning out young people, by forcing the candidates to campaign to them, and by making politicians pay attention to youth and the issues they care about once in office.