Top 2 Most Effective Voter Turnout Tools for Young Adults Are Facebook and Text Messages

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Oct 23, 2012, 05:04 ET

Generation Opportunity Launches Pledge to GO Vote Campaign for Millennials

WASHINGTON, Oct. 23, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Generation Opportunity, with over 4 million fans on Facebook and direct grassroots engagement with over a quarter million young Americans, today released poll results on young adult engagement for the 2012 presidential election and the tools likely to make the biggest impact on encouraging young voters to show up at the polls on November 6^th. The poll of Millennial voters (young adults ages 18-29) found that of the "Get Out the Vote" (GOTV) reminder tools that will have an impact on young voter turnout, Facebook ranked first at 59 percent and text messages ranked second at 50 percent. Only 18 percent of Millennials thought a phone message would be effective – a clear indication that smartphones and other mobile devices have reached a point of heavy market penetration within the demographic.

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(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110805/DC48058LOGO )

In addition to the poll results, Generation Opportunity today launched the Pledge to GO Vote Campaign aimed at further increasing the already growing enthusiasm and interest among young adults to participate in the presidential election. Generation Opportunity poll results also found that 76 percent of young adults indicate they will participate in the 2012 presidential election while only 38 percent believe today's elected leaders represent their concerns. Generation Opportunity is encouraging its supporters, their friends, and all those within their networks to Pledge to GO Vote. Read more about the initiative and sign the pledge here at GenerationOpportunity.org/vote.

Watch the video at bit.ly/PledgeToGOVote.

YOUNG AMERICAN VOTER ENGAGEMENT FOR THE 2012 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

76% of Millennials plan to vote in the election for President this year.
Only 38% believe that today's political leaders reflect the interests of young Americans.
Which will be the more important to you in casting your vote for President in 2012?
- 50% - A candidate's position on issues and a record in public office;
- 11% - A candidate's personal characteristics, like charisma and likeability;
- 29% - They are of equal importance (accepted only this response);
- 4% - Neither is important / something else;
- 5% - Do not know/cannot judge (accepted only this response).
59% agreed they will learn more about the policy positions of the presidential candidates in 2012 than they did in 2008.

YOUNG AMERICANS AND VOTER TURNOUT – EFFECTIVE GET OUT THE VOTE (GOTV) TOOLS

Which of the following, if any, would make young people more likely to vote? (Accepted multiple responses) (Randomized):
- 59% - Facebook reminder message;
- 50% - Text message reminder;
- 33% - Email reminder;
- 32% - Public service announcement;
- 18% - Phone call;
- 10% - None of the above (accepted only this response);
- 6% - Do not know/cannot judge (accepted only this response).

YOUNG AMERICANS ON THE DIRECTION OF THE COUNTRY

Only 36% of Millennials agree with the statement "generally speaking, things in the United States are heading in the right direction."
55% are not confident that America will still be a global leader in five years if the USA continues along the same path as the last few years.

YOUNG AMERICANS ON ELECTED OFFICIALS AND NATIONAL PRIORITIES – STUDENT LOANS, ENERGY, HEALTHCARE

64% of Millennials believe the availability of more quality, full-time jobs upon graduation is more important than lower student loan interest rates.
61% say the availability of more quality, full-time jobs with health insurance plans is more important than the ability to stay on their parents' health insurance plans until they are 26.
62% would increase production of domestic American energy sources like oil, natural gas, and coal if given the opportunity to set America's fiscal priorities.
72% would decrease federal spending if given the opportunity to set America's fiscal priorities.
65% prefer reducing federal spending over raising taxes on individuals to balance the budget.

YOUNG AMERICANS ON THE IMPACT OF THE ECONOMY ON FUTURE DREAMS AND CAREERS

76% of Millennials believe that the lack of job opportunities is shrinking the American middle class.
Only 29% say that the economic policies coming out of Washington are helping them.
84% of young people ages 18-29 had planned to but now might delay or not make at all a major life change or move forward on a major purchase due to the current state of the economy (Accepted multiple responses) (Randomized):
- 38% - Buy their own place;
- 32% - Go back to school/getting more education or training;
- 31% - Start a family;
- 27% - Change jobs/cities;
- 26% - Pay off student loans or other debt;
- 25% - Save for retirement;
- 23% - Get married;
- 12% - None of the above (accepted only this response);
- 4% - Do not know/cannot judge (accepted only this response).

STATEMENT BY PAUL T. CONWAY, PRESIDENT OF GENERATION OPPORTUNITY

"Given the poor economy, high unemployment, and lack of full-time jobs, it is absolutely no surprise that young Americans are highly engaged in the outcome of the presidential election – they know their futures are at stake. For the past several years, through social media and other personal networks, they have gained and provided support to one another as they worked to make ends meet in the face of delayed dreams and stalled careers," said Paul T. Conway, President of Generation Opportunity and former Chief of Staff of the United States Department of Labor. "They are constantly discussing the economy and have reached the conclusion that America is on the wrong track and that elected leaders lack the empathy and practical understanding to fully represent their concerns. As a generation, they want more than a status quo marked by unemployment, a series of part-time jobs, and fewer meaningful, full-time jobs. In the last weeks before the election, they will use social media to encourage one another to vote to change their lives for the better."

METHODOLOGY

For Generation Opportunity, the polling company, inc./WomanTrend conducted a nationwide online survey of 1,003 American adults ages 18-29 between July 27 and July 31, 2012. Randomly selected online opt-in panel participants were sent an invitation to the survey via email which included a secure link to the online questionnaire. Quotas were used to ensure the survey was representative of the larger 18-29 year old nationwide population with regard to race, region, and gender. The data were NOT weighted. The overall sampling margin of error for the survey is +/-3.1% at a 95% confidence interval, meaning that the data obtained would not differ more than 3.1 percentage points in 95 out of 100 similar samples obtained.

ABOUT GENERATION OPPORTUNITY

Generation Opportunity is the largest non-profit, non-partisan organization in the United States engaging and mobilizing young Americans (ages 18-29) on important economic issues facing the nation. Since its launch in June of 2011, Generation Opportunity has operated on a combined strategy of advanced social media tactics and field tactics to reach young Americans across the country.

Generation Opportunity is actively organizing young adults across America through grassroots tactics, voter registration, and voter turnout efforts in states like Ohio, Virginia, Maine, North Carolina and Florida, engaging over a quarter million young adults. The organization's social media platforms have amassed a total fan base of more than 4 million. Facebook pages post links to relevant articles and reports from sources ranging from the federal Government Accountability Office (GAO), to The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Brookings Institution, The Wall Street Journal, The Huffington Post, and The Heritage Foundation.