The brpr Group Launches "Battle For Your Ballot" to Combat Voter Suppression

NEW YORK, Sept. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- "Battle For Your Ballot" is a non-partisan grassroots movement spearheaded by award-winning creative conversational agency, The brpr Group, in an effort to raise awareness around the issue of voter suppression in the upcoming 2012 presidential election. The brpr Group will work in collaboration with a collection of political activists, real life voters and high-profile individuals including hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons in producing a series of digital public service announcements targeted towards key battleground states, the first of which will launch on October 4th, the day after the first presidential debate between Mitt Romney and Barack Obama.

The series will be housed on YouTube at www.YouTube.com/BattleBallot and distributed via Twitter at www.Twitter.com/BattleBallot. The mobile website, www.BattleForYourBallot.com will contain state-by-state information for voters to keep them informed as to their rights as an employee on voting day and will provide them with the list of documents they will need in order to avoid issues at the polls on Election Day.

Russell Simmons is among the high-profile individuals starring in the "Battle For Your Ballot" documentarian styled public service announcements produced by The brpr Group in an effort to unblock the vote. "It is important to support such a worthy cause that will help prevent the disenfranchisement of the very people who need to have their voices heard the most in this election through the 'Battle For Your Ballot' initiative," explained Simmons.

The issue of voter suppression has reached fever pitch in ten battleground states, including Florida, Colorado, Virginia & Ohio. Since the passing of the Federal Help Americans Vote Act (HAVA) in 2002, newly implemented voter fraud laws are being passed in these states making it more difficult for individuals to vote. For example, Virginia's proof-of-citizen voting restrictions require voters to have their naturalization certificate and other papers verifying citizenship in hand on voting day.

Voters in recent elections have encountered wrongful challenges and intimidation as partisan groups have launched organized efforts in key battleground states and targeted counties. Members of the conservative poll watcher group "True the Vote" have interfered with voters in past elections by training poll watchers to show up at the polls in minority districts to intimidate voters. Moreover, a recent study conducted by non-partisan organizations "Demos" and "Common Cause" labeled "True the Vote" and members of other similar groups as "Ballot Bullies." "True the Vote" volunteers have engaged in practices including "hovering over" voters, blocking lines, and engaging in confrontational conversations even though federal law prohibits it.

Gerard Bush, co-founder and chief creative director of The brpr Group, realized the need for the "Battle For Your Ballot" initiative after a surprising discovery that his own voter status was inaccurate. "One person, one vote is the clearest reflection of a healthy democratic process. This is not about a red or a blue state, Republican or Democrat. It's actually not partisan at all; it is about the most valued right of every American citizen to have our voices heard at the ballot box." Bush has been invited to speak on several media channels to speak out about the importance of voter suppression and the use of social media in politics: he joined Richard Liu, on MSNBC's Jansing & Co and discussed the topic in his regular column on ("Social Media > Voter Suppression") in The Huffington Post and is currently co-authoring a book, The Politics of Social Media. Bush also sat with Craig Melvin on "Weekends with Alex Witt" offering strategic social media commentary on both the Romney and Obama campaigns social media strategy.

The creative conversational agency, The brpr Group, is leading the "Battle for the Ballot" campaign.  The agency is responsible for the digital strategies for MTV, Trident, Smirnoff Ice among others and is the digital agency of record for Moet & Chandon USA.

Media Contact:
Kellie Avery
Sender Phone : 305.573 1439
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SOURCE The brpr Group