VEEKER, which provides a mobile-to-internet service for U.S. consumers, and YouthNoise, an Internet social network for youth dedicated to social change, have launched a free service encouraging youth to use their video-enabled phones to communicate their opinions and impressions this Election Day (November 7). After capturing their views users can send their “Veeks” (shorthand for what VEEKER calls Video Peeks) as MMS messages to for near-real time posting at the sites http://www.youthnoise.com , http://www.veekthevote.com and http://www.veeker.com.

The service, called Veek the Vote 2006, invites users to capture and share happenings at local polling stations, political rallies, protests, Election Day parties and any other election-related activities or events. More importantly, the service represents an important proof that Web 2.0 concepts are gaining traction, empowering ordinary users to become citizen journalists. In an October 2006 study, the research firm Telephia reported over 8 million U.S. handset owners have captured video on their mobile phones. IDC estimates the number of video-enabled phones worldwide will reach 2.4 billion by 2009.

“America’s youth, like most everyone else in the country, feel passionately about this upcoming election. They sense it is an important moment,” said Ginger Thomson, YouthNoise’s Chief Executive Officer in a press statement. “We are looking for them to shoot and send Veeks that will stir the raw emotions of other socially conscious young Americans, inspiring them to become part of the country’s political dialogue.” Personally, any departure from the mediocre “me-centric” moblog posts (seen more than my share of pet images and party aftermath pics, thanks) that characterize much of the blogosphere would be welcome.