Feb-12-08

Now you can register to vote with a text message thanks to a new service from The National Youth Political Action Coalition (NYPAC)  and PROMOBILIZE. Eighty percent of Americans own a cellular phone and of those 63 percent send text messages regularly.

Seeing this trend in cellular phone usage,  the two companies decided to use technology for a positive positive effect on one of America’s oldest rights—voting. Along with the support of Young Voter Strategies have announced last month, the "TxtVoter Campaign", which makes voter registration possible via cellular phones.

Through this process, prospective voters can register to vote without a computer or printer. Now anyone who is eligible to vote can text the keyword "register" followed by their name and address to 74574. The TxtVoter Campaign will get your message and additional pertinent information may be collected via a short phone conversation. Then, a voter registration card is mailed. Once received, the voter signs, dates, and mails it, and voter registration is complete. Also, voters can fill out a registration form online, print it and mail it.
 

Taylor Brannon, Executive Director of NYPAC, said voter registration via cell phones is unprecedented and will change politics in America.

"I am excited about the future of American politics," said Brannon. "I am overwhelmed at the fact that we’ve come this far and I am looking forward to the future. This is the first step. I look forward to one day actually being able to vote for president, senators and representatives through cell phones.

Brannon said that once voters have been registered they will receive updates on election dates, information of issues and voting precincts.

"We thought it was essential to follow-up with a reminder or where you can go vote. Not only does it empower people with the ability to register themselves to vote but we are empowering them with the knowledge of where they can vote and what they are voting on.

Brannon who is excited about the implication of voter registration said that it will change America indefinitely.

"Someday is today. Someday is right now," said Brannon. "I welcome everyone into the future of American politics—how we vote, how we implement change through our votes. Things are never going to be the same again."

For more information, contact:
Taylor Brannon, (214) 989-4261
taylorbrannon@mobilevoting.org
www.mobilevoting.org

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