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AT&T and Rock the Vote Team Up to Encourage Youth Vote at Democratic National Convention


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AT&T and Rock the Vote Team Up to Encourage Youth Vote at Democratic National Convention

’Rock the Trail’ Student Journalists Will Issue Reports from the Republican and Democratic National Conventions Using Mobile Phones

Rock the Vote Will Provide Convention Coverage Via Text Messages

Dallas, Texas

Every vote counts! And the youth vote is no exception. This election year, interest and involvement in the presidential primaries were unprecedented — in some cases quadrupling the turnout of previous elections, based on primary young-voter stats. AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) and Rock the Vote are once again hitting the trail to keep the momentum going.

Rock the Vote is gearing up to present “Ballot Bash” and an AT&T-sponsored after-party on Aug. 25 at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, featuring headliners Fall Out Boy, N*E*R*D and Jakob Dylan. In addition, the concert will feature plasma screens displaying call-to-action messages, encouraging attendees to text message their friends to spread the word.

“Rock the Trail” student journalists will report from the Democratic and Republican conventions using their mobile phones to post reports to Rock the Vote’s wireless application protocol and Web sites, and on AT&T Cellular Video.

Youth Headquarters, for more than 20 organizations, at the convention will be centered on the Rock the Vote/AT&T Mobile Elections vehicle in Denver, which has traveled to numerous youth-centric events across the country to encourage people to register and exercise their right to vote. Located at 1417 Stout St., near the Colorado Convention Center, the high-tech bus is equipped with registration areas, a sound booth to record a personalized public service announcement, a “Framerz” booth where visitors can take photos and frame themselves with images of celebrities and presidential candidates and a “Guitar Hero” demo station.

From Aug. 25 through Aug. 28, visitors can stop by the bus to download mobile music, shoot convention karaoke videos, register to vote and sign up for the Rock the Vote/AT&T text message list (text DENVER to RTVOTE or 788683) to get election and registration reminders, polls and quizzes, among other offerings. To receive election coverage updates from the Republican National Convention, text STPAUL to RTVOTE (788683).

“This election year has seen extraordinary youth involvement, and we’re excited to continue our efforts with the Rock the Vote mobile campaign at the upcoming conventions,” said Tim McGhee, director, AT&T corporate sponsorships. “These activities provide a meaningful way to reach out to youth voters in an ideal environment, utilizing the ways in which young people these days are communicating most — using their mobile devices.”

In 2004, voter turnout among 18-to-29-year-olds jumped by 4.3 million votes over 2000 levels, and in 2006, it grew another 1.9 million over the previous midterm election. In 2008, 44 million 18-to-29-year-olds will be eligible to vote, a large and potentially powerful voting block.

“Through our continued partnership with AT&T at events like Ballot Bash, Rock the Vote is nearing closer to its goal of registering 2 million young voters and getting them to vote on Election Day,” said Heather Smith, executive director of Rock the Vote. “Never before has youth involvement been so high, and the momentum continues to build as the presidential election nears.”

For more information about AT&T and Rock the Vote Mobile Tour and the Ballot Bash, visit www.attblueroom.com or www.rockthevote.com/mobile.



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