Election 2008

Fact: In four out of the past five presidential campaigns, Nickelodeon viewers have correctly chosen the President of the United States in their “Kids Pick the Prez” online poll. With a record-setting number of votes cast this year, Senator Obama received 51 percent of the vote while Senator McCain came in at 49 percent.

Why does this matter? Because young people are influencing this election in unprecedented ways -- and this group isn't even old enough to vote! Imagine, then, the significance of such participation among young voters who CAN pull the lever come election day.

Indeed, perhaps it’s a combination of keen interest among young people and campaigns who are utilizing the kinds of electronic tools familiar to today's youth that has political pundits and pollsters alike preparing for a historic turnout of young voters. The old notion that young people are impossible to reach because they don’t have landlines, don’t show up on mailing lists, and just don’t care is soooo 2004.

Anybody who followed my Tweets at ServiceNation and BlogHer know that I am a wee bit addicted to the microblogging service. Ok, I am a LOT addicted. So it should come as no surprise that I am digging Twitter Vote Report, the brainchild of Allison Fine and Nancy Scola that just went live today.

No, you cannot actually cast your vote via Twitter or text. Sorry. But what you CAN do is report on your voting experience, and help other people (or Tweeple) know what to expect, prepare, or avoid on Election Day. More instructions here on creating hashtags, sharing info, and using your mobile.