In order for the nation’s democracy to function properly and government to provide fair representation, all eligible Americans must have the opportunity and motivation to vote. However, about 92 million eligible Americans did not vote in the 2016 presidential election, and 143 million eligible people did not vote in the 2014 midterm elections.
The Center for American Progress has a new report on policies proven to increase voter participation and make voting more convenient by breaking down unnecessary barriers and building a pro-voter system. The report provides evidentiary support and data-driven impact projections for the following politics and practices:
- Streamline voter registration with automatic voter registration, same-day voter registration (SDR), preregistration of 16- and 17-year-olds, and online voter registration
- Make voting more convenient with in-person early voting, no-excuse absentee voting, and vote-at-home with vote centers
- Provide sufficient resources in elections and ensure voting is accessible
- Restore rights for formerly incarcerated people
- Strengthen civics education in schools
- Invest in integrated voter engagement (IVE) and outreach
With a pro-voter system, the millions of Americans missing from our political system—predominantly younger, low income, and people of color—can exercise their power at the polls, resulting in a more representative and responsive government that works for all Americans.
Please join CAP for a discussion of the policies that drive voter participation and improve the convenience of voting, along with impact projections showing how many additional voters could participate if pro-voter election systems were adopted nationwide.
Call-in information will be provided upon registration. Please contact Jon Roux at jroux@americanprogress.org for further questions or inquiries.