Grow the Electorate

Voter turnout rates are tragically low in this country.  Even the record-breaking turnout of the recent presidential primaries reached a mere third of eligible adults in only nine states.  In the general election that followed, turnout was less than two-thirds of eligible adults, placing us well below peer nations.  Even the states with the highest turnout rates, such as Alaska, Maine, Minnesota, Oregon, South Dakota, and Wisconsin, have turn-out significantly below high-turnout nations such as Austria, Italy, and the Czech Republic.

An election system that fosters broad participation is essential to bringing about progressive change for the simple reason that a majority of people, especially many not currently voting, support the goals that progressives are striving to achieve.  Equally important for progressive reform is encouraging participation by groups who have been and continue to be marginalized politically.  Reducing the demographic and socio-economic skew in the electorate will strengthen the voice of groups that support traditionally progressive goals such as civil rights, health care reform, and economic justice.  A host of reforms can help increase the percentage of people who vote and bring more racial, ethnic, and socio-economic diversity to the electorate.

Registration remains the biggest procedural hurdle to voting.  It is crucial that this barrier be lowered or removed altogether if we are to become a society where a large majority of people participate in elections.  We can use a number of tools to simplify the registration and voting process, particularly for young people, to build a stronger culture of civic participation.

• Improving Voter List Maintenance
• Voter Registration Modernization
• National Voter Registration Act Compliance
• Mail-in and Early Voting
• Election Day Registration
• Internet Registration
• Expanding Youth Voting