With the Mexican elections just a few weeks away, the campaign to get voters out to the polling places — especially young voters — is heating up. “Tu Rock es votar”, an organization whose mission is to do just that has created a pretty compelling campaign online, on TV, on the radio and in print which relies on the power of celebrities to encourage young people to get out and vote. The tagline: “Si no votas, cállate” (If you don’t vote, shut up). The tagline is the main part of a larger message which says: “We all complain…how many of us vote? If you don’t vote, shut up. On July 2nd, don’t let anyone decide for you”.

I think the in-your-face way the message is worded, as well as the top-notch celebrities participating in the campaign (among them rockers Julieta Venegas, Alejandra Guzmán and Café Tacuba , supermodel Montserrat Olivier, actress Cecilia Suarez) will be effective for this group, but the proof will definitely be in the pudding on election day, which will determine whether celebrity weight and creative marketing made a difference.

One thing I thought was interesting (and maybe I’m naïve) and puzzling is that, in looking at the campaign’s web site most of the major sponsors of the initiative are big American companies; Yahoo!, Chili’s, Starbucks, Domino’s Pizza, Burger King…is there a reason why these companies feel that getting the youth vote out important? Is it that they believe that the candidate that Mexican youth elects will be more sympathetic to foreign business? If anyone has the answer to this, I’d love to hear it.

Via / Chilanga Banda and Tu Rock es Votar

Image via Tu Rock es Votar