america goes to the polls 2014: voter turnout in the 2014 midterm election presented by
TRANSCRIPT
AMERICA GOES TOTHE POLLS 2014:
VOTER TURNOUT IN THE 2014 MIDTERM ELECTION
Presented by
WHO WE ARE• Network of State and National Partners• National Hub of 501c3 Voting Resources• Founding Partner of National Voter Registration Day
TODAY’S PRESENTERS
Who
Michael McDonaldProfessor of Political
ScienceUniversity of Florida
George PillsburyFounder and
Senior Consultant Nonprofit VOTE
AGENDA
Agenda
Voter Turnout Trends and Rankings
Factors that Affect Turnout
Voter Turnout among Youth and New Citizens
Reforms to Boost Turnout
VOTER TURNOUTTRENDS AND
RANKINGS
• Total Ballots Cast• Voting Eligible
Population
MEASURING VOTER TURNOUT
Trends & Rankings
Graphic Will Be Modified
TURNOUT TREND IN NATIONAL ELECTIONS
IMPACTING MIDTERM TURNOUT
TOP 10 STATES
• Which jurisdiction had the most growth in voter turnout compared to 2010?– Louisiana– District of Columbia– Wisconsin
POLL QUESTION
Poll!
FACTORS THAT AFFECT TURNOUT
Election Day Registration Political Competition Vote by Mail
COMPETITION DRIVES TURNOUT
COMPETITION IN HOUSE RACES
COOKS POLITICAL REPORT – 2014 HOUSE
IMPACT OF ELECTION DAY REGISTRATION
GROWTH IN EDR STATES
VOTE BY MAIL
• Colorado – 3rd
• Oregon – 5th
• Washington – 18th (3rd in 2010)
VOTER TURNOUT AMONG YOUTH AND
NEW CITIZENS
DROP OFF OF YOUNG VOTERS IN MIDTERMS
Graphic ComingGraphic Coming
Combined Latino Growth
LATINO VOTE 2014
ASIAN AMERICAN/PACIFIC ISLANDER VOTE 2014
REFORMS TO BOOST TURNOUT
• Modernizing Voter Registration• Early Voting• Felon Disenfranchisement• Nonpartisan Redistricting
BEYOND ELECTION DAY REGISTRATION
Reform
• Which state just adopted automatic voter registration?– Vermont– Wisconsin– Oregon
POLL QUESTION
Poll!
• Paperless, Online Voter Registration• Pre-registration of 16 and 17 year olds• The Electronic Registration Information Center
(ERIC)• Automatic and Portable Voter Registration
MODERNIZING VOTER REGISTRATION
Reform
• Voting early in-person and vote by mail• Vote centers and ballot drop off locations• The early voting period• Same day registration (during early voting)
EARLY VOTING DONE WELL
Reform
• What does the U.S. have in common with Armenia, Belgium and Chile?
• More than 4 million Americans disenfranchised post-release
• A history of discriminatory intent• 50 states with 50 approaches
RESTORING VOTING RIGHTS
ReformSources: Brennan Center, Pro-Con.com, Sentencing Project
• Sophisticated data analysis allows partisan office holders to design their own districts in a way that eliminates competitive elections and represents “democracy in reverse”
NONPARTISAN REDISTRICTING
Reform
• Factsheets, Guides, Toolkits and more available at www.nonprofitvote.org
RESOURCES
Resources
DOWNLOAD REPORT – MORE INFO
www.nonprofitvote.org
www.electproject.org
VISIT US ELECTION PROJECT
617.357.VOTE (8683)
www.nonprofitvote.org
Nonprofit VOTE89 South StreetSuite 203Boston, MA 02111
George Pillsbury
Michael McDonald