With an encouraging message and inspiring activities across the state, Rock the Vote's goals are being quickly achieved in time for November elections.

RTV encourages youth to change their world through political involvement. It aims to create a better understanding of political ideas and to create channels through which youth can become involved in politics. RTV committees define this involvement as "signing a petition, running for office, creating a political Web site or taking a public stance on major issues. Any young person can 'rock the vote.'"

RTV will be sponsoring a Rap the Vote Tour to extend their message Oct. 26 at the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro. Performers include Big Daddy Kane, Non-Phixion, Beatnuts and Cormega. On Sept. 4, RTV held a joint event with the NAACP at North Carolina Central University in Raleigh called the NAACP Bus Tour Poetry Slam and Town Hall Meeting. Special guests included artists Petey Pablo and Nivea.

RTV is separated into smaller regional organizations across the United States called Community Street Teams. These teams encourage young people to recognize their personal roles in creating political and social change. Through their involvement, the teams hope that youth will be compelled to promote awareness and action to improve their communities.

The local CST is based in Raleigh and has been very active in mobilizing youth to get involved in politics by registering voters and encouraging campaign involvement. "RTV is an awesome organization that I'm still proud to be a part of. We help other youth get involved in politics, and this is a very big deal to me. Every vote counts and everyone should be aware of this," Jen Mocklin, Community Street Team leader for North Carolina, said.

"If you know people that are registered but can't make their way to the polls, pick them up and make sure they get out and vote," Mocklin said. "If your friends happen to be registered but say they won't vote because their vote doesn't count, then politicians will never listen. They will think that if we don't vote, we have no problems."

"I think groups like RTV are really important," sophomore Wesley Harris said. "There are so many underrepresented groups including youth and minorities, and everybody needs to be aware that their opinions do matter and what they say does make a difference."

The deadline to register to vote for general elections in North Carolina is Oct. 13.