Summary
What YOU Do
Record 1-minute videos.
Participate in Zoom aircasts.
Tell your representatives about an issue that matters to you, what you’d like done about it, and ask for their feedback.
What WE Do
Amplify your voice.
Facilitate civil conversations.
We invite the politicians you address to discuss your issue … and spotlight the aircasts in onAir Hubs & social media.
WHY
To find common ground.
Promote participatory democracy.
Connect students, faculty, & the public to their representatives & candidates to have greater impact on elections and legislation.
Speak Up for Impact Contest
Democracy onAir is sponsoring the first Speak Up for Impact contest. A minimum cash prize of $150 will be awarded to the student who has the most videos submitted in their name. In addition, a minimum cash prize of $150 will be awarded to the Club and to the University with the most submitted videos in their names. Check the News section of this post for higher cash awards provided by additional sponsors throughout the contest.
The first contest started May 1, 2022 and ends August 31, 2022.
OnAir Post: Speak Up – US
About
Contest Aim
Speak Up contests promote university competitions to have the most impact on local, state, and federal government and elections – via informed, civil discussion among university communities and their elected officials.
A decade of studies showed that when constituents and their elected officials used a moderated platform to discuss their views (based on a set of issue-based facts) to find common ground, trust went up and people were more likely to vote – especially for those with whom they interacted. That’s impact!
US onAir is a non-profit, non-partisan network with a central US Hub and 50 state Hubs designed for citizens to learn, discuss, and impact their democracy.
- LEARN the facts about issues on posts, curated by student volunteers
- DISCUSS issues via live-streamed aircasts, moderated by student volunteers.
- HAVE IMPACT on elected officials, governance, prospective voters, and elections.
Videos
Model Videos
Mobile Voting – Eve Armstrong
March 23, 2022
My name is Eve Armstrong and I would like to see some change in voting accessibility. In this digital age that we live in, it is quite shocking that we haven’t developed a system where voters can cast their votes electronically. Because election days are not national holidays and due to ongoing complications with mail in ballot rejections many eligible voters are disenfranchised.
To my senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner and my congressman Don Beyer, I would like to see my representatives invest in mobile voting via a secure U.S. government website. I understand that this brings up issues regarding cyber security, but I truly believe that we, as a country, are at a place technologically where we can make mobile voting happen.
I hope you will consider my suggestion and I am looking forward to hearing from you. Thank you.
Voter Participation – Connor Oatman
March 11, 2022
Voting Rights Legislation – Ani Prakash
March 23, 2022
Voter Trust & Apathy – Meredith Cary
March 14, 2022
Contest Overview
Eligibility:
Any individual (at least 18 years old) can enter as long as they submit their own and a student’s email address. No purchase of any sort is necessary and there is no entry fee.
Submission Steps:
- Create your video as an mp4.
- Upload the mp4 when you officially join the contest by fully completing this ENTRY form.
Selection of Winner(s):
Those who inspire the most to ‘Speak Up’ win. The top three will win $150 each:
- The educator (or the class designee), for the most videos submitted on behalf of a GMU class
- The student organization, for the most videos submitted on behalf of a student organization
- The individual (faculty, student, affiliate, staff, alumni) who submits their video and influences the most individuals (in person or by social media) to join and ‘Speak Up’.
