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Young voters: Will they turn out?

Midmorning asks if the enthusiasm of today's youth will translate to their actual votes, live from the Democratic National Convention in Denver.

League of Young Voters aims to connect peers to politics

As the national political director of the League of Young Voters, Mosley has worked with the demographic since the League's creation in 2005. "Young people see what is happening with the economy, what is happening with energy, urban violence and a lot of other issues across the country," Mosley said. "These issues are affecting people in a way we haven't seen in a long time and it's evident, particularly in this generation."

Youth delegates to rock the DNC

Biko Baker, executive director of the non-partisan League of Young Voters, believes that the presence of the young delegates will be valuable for youth engagement efforts. “I think it’s giving young people practice at democracy, seeing it up close and personal,” said Baker. “I think it’s a great thing.”

Panel seeks to prevent voter disenfranchisement; League reaches out to incarcerated potential voters

Prior to Election Day, the League of Young Voters will be visiting the Allegheny County Jail, registering inmates to vote.

Analyzing the Youth Vote

Robert (Biko) Baker, executive director of the League of Young Voters, which focuses on working class voters, said it was a question of priorities. “I think, we as progressives, particularly us as young people of color who are working class, first people ... of our families to go to college, we have to continue to push these candidates around the issues that are important to us,” he said.

Getting Out the (Rest of the) Youth Vote

When it comes to mobilizing non-college youths, Khari Mosley, the national political director of the League of Young Voters, another group that works primarily with low-income youth and youth of color, stresses that it's crucial to combine traditional voter organizing tactics, such as canvassing, with new models to engage non-college youth in November.

The Factor' Goes Inside Far-Left Media 'Reform' Conference

ROBERT "BIKO" BAKER, LEAGUE OF YOUNG VOTERS: The truth of the matter is America, if you turn on the TV, is a racist, sexist, xenophobic society when you turn on the TV. We're afraid of Muslims, we're afraid of gay people, we're afraid of African-Americans, and we're afraid of working-class white folks.

Alfond wins District 8 Senate race

Justin Alfond, former head of the League of Young Voters, won Tuesday's three-way race for the Democratic nomination in Senate District 8, according to unofficial results from the Portland city clerk.

Port Authority ad policy called discriminatory

The Pittsburgh League of Young Voters Education Fund and the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Pennsylvania filed suit against the Port Authority in August 2006 after it rejected an advertisement that encouraged ex-offenders to register to vote.

Tear Down the White Picket Fence

Instead of segregating ourselves into “communities,” we need to reengage

Hill coalition pushing for arena settlement

The One Hill Community Benefits Agreement Coalition met yesterday to announce an online petition drive aimed at securing a fair new arena settlement for the community.

Non-college youth turnout lags badly

Young people who have never attended college are not voting at levels nearly as high in the primary elections as their peers with at least some post-secondary education, according to a recent report by a nonprofit group that studies civic engagement among youths.

Pittsburgh has changes in political leadership

Last week the Allegheny County Council selected Amanda Green to replace Brenda Frazier and Khari Mosley to become the national field director for the League of Young Voters.

City man to expand reach to young voters

Pittsburgh political activist Khari Mosley is hitting the road as the new national field and political director for the League of Young Voters.

Destination Tomorrow?

Last week, scores of people, including at least 60 young adults organized by Portland’s League of Young Voters, converged on a public hearing held by the Portland Area Comprehensive Transportation (PACTS), the regional advisory board whose job is to recommend transportation solutions and policies for the greater Portland area, to ask members to rethink their priorities for the near future.

Young voter turnout goes through roof

Billy Wimsatt, director of the League of Young Voters noted, “The youth vote didn’t just come out of nowhere. Organizations like ours have been building up the youth vote election cycle after election cycle to help build the confidence of young people to participate.”

Crowd resists widening I-295

A Portland meeting on transportation spending draws supporters of investing in public transit.

Youth vote real force in 2008

Sam Dorman, the Director of Online Programs for the League of Young Voters, recognized the power of the Internet to engage youth voters and help run a faux primary on Facebook.com as a result.

'Disease' of credit debt addressed

The campaign, sponsored by the Service Employees International Union and the League of Young Voters, is promoting a student video contest dubbed “Keep it in your pants,” which plays off the theme of campaigns to prevent sexually transmitted diseases.

Young voters are stoked

Students at UC-Berkeley favor Barack Obama, with 61 percent of them supporting him in a League of Young Voters online primary on the social networking site Facebook. Among young voters who participated in the Facebook primary, 48 percent of Californians went for Obama, as did 44 percent of all young people in the United States.

Candidates facing up to youth on the Internet

Nish Suvarnakar, interim director of the Pennsylvania chapter of the League of Young Voters, said the politicians who have been most successful in courting the young vote are the ones who engage them to lead community efforts themselves.

Students Use Site to Choose Favorite Candidates

Facebook Offers Way for Students to Blend Networking and Politics Through Online Vote

Vote online, with Facebook at least

The League of Young Voters and MoveOn.org Political Action launched their Facebook primary the same day as the Iowa caucus. Students can add the primary application to their profiles and choose their favorite candidate.

Draft plan to widen I-295 draws criticism

A multimillion dollar plan to improve Interstate 295 between Scarborough and Brunswick is drawing criticism from activists opposed to widening some sections of the road from four lanes to six.

10 Examples of Getting Social Media in Politics...

The League of Young Voters Facebook Application enables the political conversation within Facebook.

You can Vote in the (Virtual) Primary Today

Anyone can vote in the primaries when your states have them. But you can vote today in the virtual primary brought to you by the League of Young Voters.

Where the youth vote is: MySpace, Facebook

Virtual 'primaries' are popular with users, and campaigns take note.

MoveOn.org and the League Unleash Your Inner Activist

The liberal MoveOn.org Political Action group announced a bunch of new online applications Thursday that aim to prime citizens to take political action at the click of a mouse.

What is it About America?

The League of Young Voters and MoveOn.orgs’ Political Action Committees have created a brilliant way for your voice to be heard!

MoveOn And The League: Helping Youth Voters Continue To Grow

I was impressed last night in Des Moines, I have to admit it. As the returns came in and I chatted about them with friends like Ari Melber, it became increasingly clear that a watershed moment had just happened.

The League and MoveOn Team Up for a Digital Primary

If it doesn't seem fair to you that a measly 6% of Iowans get an over-sized say in picking our next nominees, The League of Young Voters and MoveOn have a solution to your pre-caucus envy. Today the two groups teamed up to launch their own primary on Facebook. Via a new application that they hope will highlight the beliefs of young voters and showcase their interests in the primary process.

OBAMA, SCARLETT JOHANSSON AND A FACEBOOK PRIMARY

Des Moines, Iowa -- Scarlett Johansson was the special guest at Barack Obama's last big rally in Iowa last night. The Obama Campaign avoided publicizing her appearance or involving her in the official program, but she spoke at a separate, small gathering to rally young voters.

Announcing the Facebook Youth Primary

Do younger voters have something to tell the rest of America? The League of Young Voters and MoveOn.org Political Action are betting that they do, and along with a growing coalition of youth-oriented groups, they are launching a "Facebook Primary" application aimed at highlighting the views of voters under the age of 35.

Scarlett Backs Obama

It's not only Oprah anymore. Scarlett Johansson has jumped aboard the Barack Obama train. She even gave a speech supporting the presidential candidate right before the crucial Iowa caucuses Jan 2nd in Coralville, Iowa.

A 'Facebook Primary'

The League of Young Voters and MoveOn.org Political Action are kicking off a “Facebook Primary” that aims to solicit and highlight the political views of young voters, including current and recent college students.

The Race Is On: Whom Are You Voting For?

All eyes are on Iowa today where registered party members are voting in Caucuses. Young people (18-29) represent 22.2% of the population in Iowa and could very well decide who will lead our country out of the mess we are in. If you are registered to vote in Iowa, young people all over the country are counting on you to represent!

The Ten Best Public Policies of 2007

This bright policy idea didn’t come from politicians: grassroots organizations, including the League of Young Voters, began a petition drive that was later picked up by legislators.

Mutual funds tailored to political philosophies

Everybody knows about the Sierra Club with its deep pockets and nationwide staff, but they may not know how the fledgling League of Young Voters is trying to engage young people in politics.

And now, hold them accountable

There'll be no resting on laurels, League state director Justin Alfond informed the victors -- now the voters will hold them accountable.

Mecke rallies supporters in losing effort

The League of Young Voters spent the entire day campaigning for Mecke all around San Francisco. . .

Portland Greens Another: The Real Story Is The League

The League of Young Voters had a 100% success rate this year with its endorsed candidates.

TheBallot.org Gets It Right

Some of the best ways to get people to vote are social. Below are a few projects, such as TheBallot.org that got it right. They each have elements that make voter engagement and turnout effective, lasting and fun.

SF: Candidates, Activists Asking Voters To Turnout For Election

League of Young Voters is touring San Francisco in the bus today passing out voter guides and encouraging registered voters to turn out at polling places, according to spokeswoman Heather Box.

Web tool of choice for Young Voters

On the statewide level, it still takes "dedicated young folks" to get the word out, but the Internet has helped jump-start interest, said Rob Baker, organizing director for the national League of Young Voters.

Opportunity Maine aims to keep college grads in-state

The panel brought together Alec Maybarduk, the field director of Opportunity Maine and the League of Young Voters, Bowdoin alumnus David Duhalde '06 from the Young Democratic Socialists, and Rebecca Thompson, the legislative director for the United States Student, who answered students' questions about Opportunity Maine and discussed the issue of increasing college debts.

Step Up To The Plate...and get a beer mug

The League of Young Voters billed Wednesday night's "Step Up To The Plate" awards as "not your typical awards ceremony. Which in some ways was true, but in others was only sort of true.

Young Hellions. . .Er. . .Voters

Keegan King, the co-director of the League, took some time out of the election season mayhem to talk with the Alibi about the organization's role in youth politics.

Olympian Wescott is speaker tonight

Olympic gold medalist Seth Wescott will be the keynote speaker at The League of Young Voters Education Fund Step Up to the Plate Awards at 6 p.m. today.

Supreme Court Takes on Voter Registration

Some organizations working on voter mobilization and fighting for full citizen participation include Liberty Hill Foundation and The League of Young Voters...

Olympic Snowboarder Seth Wescott to Speak to Young Maine Entrepreneurs

The League of Young Voters Education Fund announced this week that Maine business owner and Olympic gold medal snowboarder Seth Wescott will be the keynote speaker at their Step Up to the Plate Awards...

Albuquerque school board votes to let cops carry guns

Opponents from the League of Young Voters and the SouthWest Organizing Project pleaded with the board for gun-free schools and more emphasis on violence prevention and intervention. . .

TheLeague.com: Not Your Old Man’s Political Site

My buddy Sam Dorman over at The League of Young Voters just announced the launch of their newly branded site, TheLeague.com. And I’m impressed.

Video killed the radio star

Some non profits have been ahead of the curve, putting video to work for them. Here are some of my recent favorites – each with a different goal, style, and creative angle.

Back to School with the Youth Vote

One of these orgs, the League of Young Voters, just launched a new website: check it out. Fortunately, they are not working alone, and there are a number of other groups doing interesting and effective work...

Get to Know Your City Council Candidates on Sept. 06

1000 Friends of New Mexico, in partnership with the League of Young Voters, Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP) and Sacred Alliance for Grassroots Equality (SAGE Council), hosts the 2007 Albuquerque United Candidates Forum...

Changemakers: Chelsa Wagner

Right now, she's due to meet with the League of Young Voters, "one of the groups that gives me a lot of hope," she says. "It's so important to have new people involved in the political process."

Mainers Give Grads Debt Relief

After spending the fall of 2005 with Maine student activists and the League of Young Voters fighting a referendum that would have gutted an ...

Curbing exodus of graduates

Opportunity Maine joined with the League of Young Voters to collect 73000 signatures to put their proposal to a referendum in November. ...

Governor Signs Pioneering Law To Stop "Brain Drain"

Justin Alfond of the League of Young Voters, which pushed for the so-called Opportunity Maine law, put it this way: "The eyes of the nation are looking at Maine."

Take our Money, Please: Student debt no longer hits as hard for Mainers

A student debt relief campaign received strategic guidance from The League of Young Voters.

Victory in Maine

 

Fighting "brain drain" in Maine (and winning!)

 

Opportunity Maine Overwhelmingly Passes the Legislature

 

Outreach efforts to the politically aware young are increasing

A surge of youth voters is likely to change the political landscape in 2008 and beyond.

Politicking to the Beat of the Funky Drummer

 

MySpace Digs Deeper Into Politics With Town Hall Meetings

MySpace has announced yet another step into politics with its plan to host what it calls a 'Presidential Town Hall' series of hour-long events at college campuses this fall. The sessions will invite the public to attend up-close and personal discussions with presidential candidates as they answer questions from the audience and online. Several front-runners have already said they will participate.

Schedulers struggle with transit route cuts

Port Authority bus and trolley riders are growing antsy about how they may be affected by upcoming service changes."No one has seen the schedules, and people are scared," Khari Mosley, state director of the Pennsylvania League of Young Voters....

Let's own this movement, Portland

 

Young voters endorse Pittsburgh Public School Board candidates

 

Groups unite to demand arena benefits

An alliance of unions, community groups and housing and political organizations is lining up... hoping to change the way development is done across Pittsburgh. The new umbrella group, Pittsburgh UNITED, includes 15 organizations (including the League of Young Voters) and plans to add more....

No More Friday Nights at the Mall?

 

Pa. renters have big stake in referendum

 

Mayor Luke doesn't play well with voters his own age

 

Suit over bus ads aimed at convicts can go forward

 

Dedicated Newsom bashers

Eclectic mix of bloggers, activists delights in skewering mayor

Anti-Violence Group Protests Mayfair Mall Teen Policy (video)

 

A Movement Without a Candidate

 

Political group aims to keep young voters informed

A political action group is launching an interactive video voter guide on its Web site to keep young voters informed for the upcoming primary elections.

12,000 say no to bus cuts

 

Rendell honors League PA Director Mosley

 

Take me out of the ball game ...

 

Pittsburgh blogs foment controversy

 

Capping college debt

 

Downtown Port Authority rally draws crowd

 

The Youth Shall Set You Free: 2006 Person of the Year

 

The new guard

 

RU a Txt Votr? Text Messaging Registers Young Latinos

"We're trying to change the mindset that political engagement is in some boring category separate from the rest of life," says Sam Dorman, National Online and Technology Director for the League of Young Voters. "When we talk about politics, we're talking about our father's job, our grandma's health care, or our sister's education. So if young people are already communicating about those issues by text message, we need to be there with them."

4 Easy Voter Reg, Txt Me

Response was positive, said Sam Dorman, tech director of The League of Young Voters, which used text message signups at its Pittsburgh affiliate. The key to getting young people to vote is convincing them that politics isn’t “in some other boring category, separate from the rest of life,” Dorman said. “If young people are comfortable communicating by text message, that’s where they’ll talk about these issues,” he said.

Jeff Chang Showers League With Love!

 

Housing Committee Discusses Inclusionary Zoning

A nod to the Portland League of Young Voters

Black leaders divided even on need for unity

Coalition building works, said Mr. Mosley

Mayoral Candidates Score Partial Public Funding

 

City Politics: Dating for College Students

Groups like the League of Young Voters were outraged last week, when City Council President Luke Ravenstahl initially chose March 7 as the date for a special election to replace former City Councilor Gene Ricciardi.

Special election date changed

This is a huge victory for all our young voters all over the city said Khari Mosley, from the League. Mosley hailed the date change as evidence that young people can affect city issues.

Hip-hop activist devalues 50 Cent's line

An outspoken hip-hop activist whose worldview was shaped by groups like Public Enemy, Biko Baker knew he had to come to Pittsburgh when he heard about the fatal shooting of Shelton Flowers at The Waterfront last week on the opening night of 50 Cent's new movie...

Hip-Hop Voting Bloc?

Hip-hop culture has proved to be a very effective means of conveying political ideas to young people. Its images and lyrics speak far more clearly to many of them than the language of mainstream politicians. And we may have seen only a hint of hip-hop's political promise.

Pittsburgh seen as a hotbed for political activism

A few U.S. cities -- San Francisco, New York City, Seattle -- are synonymous with political activism among young people. Is Pittsburgh ready to join that list? For some people, it already has. This week, the New York-based League of Independent Voters is holding its second annual national convention, "Smackdown 2005," at the University of Pittsburgh...

So Fresh, So Clean

 

Skepticism spawns broad effort to push voting reform

 

Adrienne Brown interviewed on Rise Up Radio

 

Don't Sleep

Conscious youth have turned out and stuck around. Now, what matters is that they don't give up the fight.

The Truth About the Youth Vote

 

Election Day Top Ten

 

League of Pissed Off Voters Gives Tips For Election Day

 

Happy days are here again!

Cheer up, progressives, says Texas populist Jim Hightower. Not only will Kerry win decisively on Nov. 2 -- we're also seeing the great awakening of grass-roots democracy.

Fighting Voter Panic

 

Home Stretch

 

Impeach the President

It's been a historic political year for the hip-hop generation, but will they rock the vote on Nov. 2?

Using the Web Helps Take the Message to the Street

 

Some Just Won't Vote, No Matter What

 

Being There - Beer and Voting in Reno

 

Absentee Voters Hit Roadblocks

 

Mattie Weiss on NPR's "Talk of the Nation"""

 

Looking for Voters Who Are, Well, Angry

 

Personal Voices: Staying up Late to Vote Early

New voters hold their ground and stake their tents at Camp Out for Change, an event to mark the first day of early voting in Florida.

Will Bush Spark A Seismic Youthquake?

 

The hundredth phone call

Small actions, when sufficiently multiplied, can change the world

Life of the Party

Is this the Birth of a New Hipster Political Movement?

Debates heat up at HotHouse

Polls indicate young people more interested in politics this election year

Chicago Activists Re-Ignite Young Voters

 

University of Minnesota student runs for Ramsey County office

First-year University student Nic Buron said he is working to make government officials more accessible by running for Ramsey County Soil and Water Conservation District supervisor.

The Third Debate: Jesus, Mary, Bob and Joseph! Oh My!

Adrienne Maree Brown remixes the third presidential debate.

League in MTV.com news headlines

 

Pissed off voters' try to reach FSU students

 

Hip-hop community slams Bush at Miami poetry event

 

Hip-hop political confab mobilizes to change city

From voter training workshops to a hot performance by Talib Kweli, the first Pennsylvania Hip Hop Political Conference had a focus of voter registration.

One Pissed Off Voter

Gita Drury, a leader in the youth voting movement, explains the League of Pissed Off Voters' plans for their October push, and the shift in approach from progressive foundations.

Darth Vader and Mr. J Crew: One is Rubber, One is Glue

Adrienne Maree Brown's take on the the vice presidential debates.

Each Vote Strengthens Democracy

 

A new class of power voters

After a pathetic turnout in 2000, college students are poised to be an important wild card in this presidential election.

Changing Our World, One Vote at a Time

The Satya Interview with Adrienne Maree Brown

As October 5 deadline approaches, students rush to register new voters

 

Hip-Hop Convention seeks to rap the vote

 

A Gentleman and a Gangsta