LOS ANGELES, December 10, 2007 –  Assemblymember Curren Price (D- Inglewood),  Chair of the Elections and Redistricting Committee, co-presided over a Joint Hearing of the Arts, Entertainment, Sports Tourism & Internet Media Committee and the Elections and Redistricting Committee to explore modern voter outreach strategies.   “It is imperative that California’s voter outreach practices are as comprehensive and contemporary as possible,” said Assemblymember Price.  “We have to diversify our methods in order to reach our diverse voting population.”

In a digital age marked by social networking sites, internet blogs and online video content, a growing number of voters depend on technology to provide them with voting information.   This is especially true for the younger demographic of voters.  Rock the Vote’s Heather Smith, Jeff Berman of My Space and Face Book’s Chris Kelly testified as to the power of technology to reach voters.  According to Ms. Smith, more than 80% of registered voters between the ages of 18-29 cast ballots in recent elections.  Jeff Berman illustrated that some political candidate’s My Space pages generate more hits than major recording artists.   Assemblymember Price and Assemblymember Mendoza expressed concern that many of their constituents may not have access to new media technology, and want to ensure that their outreach needs are also addressed.

Also testifying before the panel was Secretary of State Bowen who shared the state’s modern approach to reaching new and existing voters, while emphasizing that more traditional methods are still effective.  Bowen discussed the state’s collaboration with Rock the Vote to mail voter registration cards to residents on their 18th birthday and the facilitation of mock elections in high schools, in order to encourage future voter participation.  She also submitted that established methods of providing voter information and registration cards in conjunction with driver’s license applications and naturalization ceremonies were still effective. 

“Developing a healthy balance between conventional and modern outreach is key,” testified Willie Brown, publisher of Inglewood Today Newspaper.  “There is a large segment of the population that continues to depend primarily on traditional media formats for information.”      

Assemblymember Curren Price serves the 51st Assembly District, which includes Inglewood, Hawthorne, Gardena, Playa Vista, Westchester, Lawndale, West Athens, Lennox, Alondra Park, West Compton, Del Aire, and Willowbrook, as well as portions of the unincorporated area of Ladera.