The Nonprofit Voter Engagement Network's monthly recap of news, articles, studies and more, on election reform, voter turnout and voter participation.  For more on NVEN's mission and goals please visit us here.

 

This Month:

• Voter turnout continues to break records in presidential primaries
  
• Voter Turnout Reports on Primary
  
• ACLU Releases Felon Disenfranchisement Toolkit
  
• Shorts

  Voter Turnout Continues to Break Records in Presidential Primaries!

 

An interim analysis conducted by NVEN highlights the voter turnout gains that continue to break records for the presidential primary. Nearly one in four of the nation's citizen eligible voters have participated in a primary or caucus as of April 1.

Overall participation is up in primaries and caucuses for both parties. Turnout in Democratic primaries has doubled with increases realized in every primary when compared to the 2004 turnout. Democratic caucuses have tripled in turnout compared to 2004. Turnout in Republican primaries and caucuses is also up in most states.

Youth turnout has shown especially large increases. Turnout by voters ages 18-29 rose at a faster rate than any other age group. All 15 states with comparable data showed a significant increase in youth turnout.

Latino voter turnout has also seen increases in most states, with especially large gains in Texas and an unprecedented 90% jump in California (insert graphic of chart).

 Voter Turnout Reports on Primaries

CIRCLE/Rock the Vote
Pew Hispanic Center
Rock the Vote Youth Turnout

 ACLU Releases Felon Disenfranchisement Toolkit

Right to Vote, a campaign of the American Civil Liberties Union's Racial Justice Program, recently published "Breaking the Barriers to the Ballot Box: Felon Enfranchisement Toolkit", an unparalleled resource for voting rights advocates.

The toolkit contains comprehensive information regarding campaign strategies, educational and public awareness materials, and model materials that include legislation, talking points, fact sheets, op-eds and much more.  In addition to the full toolkit, a slide presentation and Legal Primer are also available on the Breaking Barriers web page.

Shorts

Election Day Registration Advances in Oklahoma, Lobby Day in Massachusetts: 

The Oklahoma Senate passed Election Day registration as part of other election changes on March 13.  The bill would allow voters who can prove their identity(photo ID is not required) to be able to vote on Election Day.  The bill has strong support, but may get changed in the House.  The Massachusetts State Legislature has passed EDR through to the final stages of approval, and MassVOTE and partners will lead a lobby day on April 8th in the House. Demos and MassVOTE recently released Election Day Voter Registration in Massachusetts, a report on the positive impact of EDR in Massachusetts.  Demos also publishes a weekly report tracking EDR legislation in all 50 states.

Ranked Choice Voting Gains in Vermont: 

Ranked choice voting (Instant Runoff Voting) has come closest to adoption by a state this month in Vermont. Both the Vermont Senate and House passed an Instant Runoff Voting Bill on March 21, which was sent for Governor Douglas' signature last Monday.. The Vermont Bill is unique because it would apply to federal as well as local elections. 

Congress May Act to Stop "Voter Caging":

In late February the U.S. Senate Rules Committee held regarding a bill to prevent voter caging (S.2305).  Voter caging is the practice of sending direct mail to voters' home, compiling lists(called "caging lists") of voters whose mail was returned, and then challenging these voters at the polls.  For more information about voter caging, see Project Vote's report "Caging Democracy: A 50-Year History of Partisan Challenges to Minority Voters."  

 

This month's Election Reform News and Turnout was prepared by Jeff Arp, Senior Policy Associate and George Pillsbury, Policy and Development Director