Update: While some of the Shacknews staff is currently unable to download Rock the Vote materials with a free Silver account, such as voter registration, other members are able to access the materials with no issues from Silver accounts--suggesting the system is currently experiencing errors and is not intentionally blocking Silver members.

Original Story: As previously reported, Microsoft and Rock the Vote--a campaign encouraging youths to get involved in the political process--have teamed up to provide a Rock the Vote homepage on Xbox Live, promising easy voter registration for otherwise non-political gamers.

Unfortunately, money still talks the loudest in American politics, as these laudable features are currently only available to Xbox Live's paying Gold customers, as opposed to the free Silver accounts.

Our very own Chris Faylor ventured into the depths of American politics and has lived to tell the tale. His story is a harrowing one of free John McCain and Barack Obama Gamer Pictures, easy voter registration, and being encouraged to cast a ballot by streaming videos from the likes of Spank Rock, Santogold, N.E.R.D., Soulja Boy, and the cast of One Tree Hill.

The Rock the Vote homepage is accessible from the Inside Xbox menu on the Xbox 360 Dashboard. Gold users can download a Gamer Picture saying "I Registered" in order to receive an email link to an online voter registration form. From there, Gamer Pictures of presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama are also downloadable, as are streaming videos from the aforementioned entertainers.

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The cast of One Tree Hill encourages you to vote.

As of this writing, voter registration is only to Xbox Live Gold subscribers, whereas all Xbox Live members can access the streaming Rock the Vote videos.