As we endure the final lap of the 2016 presidential race, many figures and organizations have stressed the importance of political involvement—especially among millennials. Everyone from Chance the Rapper to Ty Dolla Sign to Pusha T have started initiatives to get the younger generation to vote; however, many of these people aren’t familiar with the process, and don’t know where to turn with their questions. Enter GoVoteBot, a new feature through Facebook messenger that aims to increase voter registration among the tech-savvy.
GoVoteBot, a joint effort by R/GA and the Ad Council, will be available for the rest of the election season, helping U.S. citizens register to vote as well as answer questions, such as where, when, and how to cast their ballot.
“One of the core rights of our democracy and the greatness of our country is our right to vote, but nearly half of Americans didn’t vote in the last election,” Lisa Sherman, president and CEO of the Ad Council, said in a press release. “We’re so proud to work with R/GA and our partners to get the word out about GoVoteBot and encourage people throughout the country to get out and vote.”
According to the Ad Council, more than 43 percent of eligible U.S. voters did not participate in the 2012 general election. A recent report by the Pew Research Center found that an estimated 69.2 million millennials (adults ages 18-35) are eligible to vote in 2016. That number is extremely close to the 69.7 million Baby Boomers who are eligible. It’s clear the younger generation has the potential to be a powerful political force; they just need to ensure their voices are heard.
GoVoteBot is a non-partisan tool that has no opinion on party affiliation or which candidate the user supports. You can learn more about GoVoteBot, and try it out for yourself, here.
