'Declare Yourself' organization created to encourage young people to vote

by Isa Torres, staff writer

 

With the presidential election coming up and the future of the nation ready to be written on the next page of history, private non-profit organizations are trying to get word out to college students and young people so they can inform themselves about the candidates, their stands and the issues that could affect America.

Organizations such as Declare Yourself are providing information to people between the ages of 18 and 29. Norman Lear, a Hollywood producer, founded Declare Yourself after he bought an original copy of the Declaration of Independence. The organization’s website www.declareyourself.com, helps people to know everything about the elections and be ready to choose the president they want.

“Our goal is to register voters,” said Marc Morgenstern, executive director of Declare Yourself.

This organization knows that the young people will have a major role when the elections come.

“We are getting young people into the voting poll,” says Morgenstern.

According to Morgenstern, registering to vote can be a difficult and confusing process.

“We make it a one-step job to get registered,” says Morgenstern. “It takes two minutes to fill out the form.”

Morgenstern also said that 44 million Americans are between the ages of 18 and 29.

“That is 20 percent of the voters,” says Morgenstern. “That group can have a big impact.”

Yet Morgenstern said he knows that many times only 50 percent of those potential voters will actually register and vote for a candidate.

“Procrastinating is very easy,” says Morgenstern. “We want to register voters today, not tomorrow.”

Declare Yourself is also in partnership with other organizations such as Voto Latino, along with companies such as Starbucks, American Eagle and Harper Collins. Other groups that have stepped up to get the word out to the media include Comedy Central, Myspace, Yahoo, Goggle and Good Magazine.

Declare Yourself provides information about the candidates, as well as a most-frequently-asked-questions link to help students.

In 2004, Declare Yourself registered 1.2 million people. So far this year they helped 300,000 students to register. Their goal is to get to two million young people registered.

Though the primaries are winding down, Declare Yourself is far from being done. They still have projects that will help to reach out to more students.

“We will be at the political conventions to get the word out,” said Morgenstern. He added that the best way to vote is by being informed.

“Read a lot, go to the candidates’ website and get informed,” Morgenstern said.