WHAT IS THE MISSION? 

YOU'VE HEARD OF GOTV...

THIS IS GTVO!

SIMON SAYS: GET THE VOTE OUT! 

Every election cycle, the big question echoes: Will young people show up to vote?

Recently, the answer has been a loud and clear YES!

Young voters aged 18-29 have smashed the “unreliable” stereotype with record-breaking turnout.

Between the 2014 and 2018 midterms and the 2016 to 2020 presidential elections, youth voter participation skyrocketed by double digits. In 2022, Gen Z, as the entire 18-24 age group, turned out at higher rates than any generation before them in their first eligible election.

But the work isn’t done. Youth turnout still trails behind older generations, and significant gaps remain. In 2022, Black (15%) and Latino (14%) youth turnout lagged nearly 10 percentage points behind the overall youth rate, while youth with a Bachelor’s degree outvoted their peers with only a high school diploma by a massive 30 points.

Enter the GTVO (Get the Vote Out) hackathon—a game-changing invention-based learning experience where technologists, subject-matters experts, and youth changemakers unite to create solutions that energize and activate their generation.

It’s more than a hackathon...

We are here to inspire democracy -- TOGETHER! 

Let’s build bold tools, drive change, and make sure every young voice roars at the ballot box. The future of democracy depends on it—and we’re ready to make it unstoppable!

WHAT TO BUILD

TRACK 1: VOTER REGISTRATION TECHNOLOGY
Objective: Develop tools that help streamline and simplify the voter registration process for youth in underserved communities.

Key Focus Areas:

• User-Friendly Registration Platforms: Build digital tools or apps that make it easier for young people (ages 18-29) to register to vote, particularly in areas with limited access to technology or where voter registration processes are complicated.
• Multi-Language Support: Ensure that registration tools are accessible to diverse communities, providing multi-language support to ensure inclusivity.
• Mobile-First Solutions: Develop mobile-first applications that allow users to register to vote directly from their smartphones with ease, even in areas with limited broadband access.

What We’re Looking For: Projects that make voter registration seamless, accessible, and engaging for youth, especially in underserved communities.

TRACK 2: VOTER EDUCATION TOOLS
Objective: Create tools that provide clear, unbiased information about the voting process, candidates, and ballot measures to help young voters make informed decisions.

Key Focus Areas:

• Interactive Learning Platforms: Design platforms that educate youth on the voting process, political issues, and the importance of voting through engaging and interactive formats.
• Civic Education Games: Build games that educate users on civic participation, government structures, or key political issues, making learning fun and informative.
• Fact-Checking & Misinformation Tools: Create tools that help youth verify political information and fight misinformation, promoting critical thinking and informed voting.

What We’re Looking For: Solutions that engage youth in understanding the voting process and empower them to make informed decisions.

TRACK 3: VOTER MOBILIZATION & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Objective: Build solutions that encourage youth to become active participants in mobilizing their peers and community members to vote.

Key Focus Areas:

• Community Organizing Platforms: Create tools that allow youth to organize voter registration drives, local campaigns, or community events to encourage voting.
• Social Media & Engagement Tools: Design tools that help young people spread awareness about the importance of voting on social media or other digital platforms, leveraging their peer networks to mobilize voters.
• Voter Turnout Incentives: Build digital solutions that incentivize voter participation, such as gamified apps or platforms that reward youth for getting their peers to register or vote.

What We’re Looking For: Projects that increase voter turnout and engagement among youth, using technology to mobilize communities.

• Increasing Participatory Democracy - 35%
  How effectively does the solution increase participatory democracy among youth in Los Angeles County and beyond? Does the solution empower youth ages 18-29 to become agents of non-partisan voter engagement in their own communities?
• Working Prototype - 30%
  Is there a functioning prototype of the solution that can be demoed? Does the prototype demonstrate the core concept effectively? Is it operational within the scope of the hackathon time frame?
• Innovation & Creativity - 15%
  How innovative is the project? Does it bring a fresh approach to solving the problem in its respective track? Is the concept creatively designed and original?
• User Experience & Design - 20%
  How well does the design cater to the user? Is the interface user-friendly, and does it consider accessibility for a wide audience? Is the overall user experience intuitive and engaging?