AMERICA GOES TO THE 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 McDonald Professor of Political Science University of Florida George Pillsbury Founder 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 TURNOUT TRENDS 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 – 18 th (3 rd in 2010)

VOTER TURNOUT AMONG YOUTH AND NEW CITIZENS

DROP OFF OF YOUNG VOTERS IN MIDTERMS

Graphic 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 Reform Sources: 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 RESOURCES Resources

DOWNLOAD REPORT – MORE INFO

VISIT US ELECTION PROJECT

VOTE (8683) Nonprofit VOTE 89 South Street Suite 203 Boston, MA George Pillsbury Michael McDonald