US Vote Blog

Just 36.6% of eligible citizens voted in the 2014 midterm elections, the lowest in a midterm since World War II, but turnout varied across states by as much as 30 percentage points. A new report by Nonprofit VOTE, America Goes to the Polls 2014, ranks voter turnout in all 50 states and looks at major factors underlying voter participation. It also details successful strategies employed by high voter turnout states.

For example, states with Election Day Registration (EDR) had the highest voter participation rates averaging 48%, 12 points higher than the turnout in states without it. Seven of the top 10 turnout states have EDR. None of the bottom 10 turnout states have EDR.

Congress has repealed the federal mandate for an Internet voting demonstration project.

Since 2002’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), there has been a provision pending completion that called for an Internet voting “demonstration project” to be conducted by the Department of Defense. In 2004, a system was proffered that the Defense Department commissioned, known as the SERVE project. Ultimately, the Defense Department decided against moving forward with SERVE.

Happy Election Day! When you cast your vote today, be mindful of this treasured American right that you are exercising. Still, in twenty-first century America, there are millions of citizens who are denied the right to vote, either via complicit or implicit ways. Students, the elderly, the disabled, and minorities comprise just some of the groups who have had their voting rights systematically taken away in recent years.

Many would-be voters are kept away from the ballot box due to voter identification restrictions that, some say, disproportionately impact students, the elderly, the poor, and minorities. Our friend, Barbara Arnwine, sheds light on the issue here.

Rock The Vote recently launched a campaign aimed at inspiring young Americans to vote in the upcoming midterm elections. Called #TurnOutForWhat, the campaign is enlisting musicians and celebrities to show that voting is vital even when the White House is not at stake. Joining the cause in a video are Lil’ Wayne, Whoopi Goldberg, Lena Dunham, Natasha Lyonne, Sophia Bush, Ireland Baldwin, and Fred Armisen, among others.

According to Rock The Vote, that there are approximately 86 million American Millennials in the U.S. The Institute of Politics (IOP) at Harvard University defines Millennials as those aged between 18 and 29 years old, born between 1985 and 1996. This age cohort is reportedly far less politically engaged than its older predecessors of the General X and Baby Boomer generations.

As we march toward the middle of October, there are precious few days left until Election Day – November 4. Stay informed about your state’s election dates and deadlines right here with U.S. Vote Foundation’s comprehensive state list.

For both U.S.-based domestic voters as well as overseas or military voters, our list provides state-by-state election dates, voter registration dates, absentee ballot request dates, absentee ballot return dates, and early in-person voting dates where applicable.

In election cycles, there are a handful of key battleground states that seem to garner the most media attention. West Virginia is typically not among those swing states, although that has not stopped it from making a big splash in the effort to increase voter participation this November 4.

This year, the Mountain State is hoping to attract more voters to the polls by making a direct connection between this democratic right with the military veterans who helped preserve it. West Virginia Secretary of State Natalie E. Tennant recently launched the “Vote in Honor of a Veteran” program.

Happy National Voter Registration Day from everyone at U.S. Vote Foundation! If you are not yet registered to vote, do it now. If you need an absentee ballot, request it now! Remind your friends, family members, or co-workers who to register to vote – show them how – direct them to https//:www.usvotefoundation.org/.

There are so many speedy 21st century methods to get the word out to your network of contacts. Email your friends and family and let them know it is National Voter Registration Day.

By now, you’ve all heard of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. People from all over the world are filming themselves as they pour a bucket of ice water over their heads in order to raise awareness and money for The ALS Association, which is fighting amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Upon completing the challenge, the drenched participant looks into the camera and tags additional people to complete the Ice Bucket Challenge. According to the challenge, one may either accept the ice bucket or donate to The ALS Association. Fortunately for The ALS Association, it appears that many participants are doing both, which is growing the profile of this fine organization and helping us get closer to striking out ALS.

Recently, U.S. Vote Foundation highlighted the uphill battle being fought by college students who have discovered that their university-issued identification cards and out-of-state driver’s licenses are not accepted at the polls in certain states. Congress has taken notice of these increasing claims of discrimination due to voter ID laws. Voter ID Bill HR 5144 was recently referred to the Committee on House Administration.

The Equal Access to Support Youth (EASY) Voting Act, would “amend the Help America Vote Act [HAVA] of 2002 to require States which require individuals to present a photo identification as a condition of voting in elections for Federal office to accept a photo identification presented by a student which is issued by the school the student attends.” Simply put, the bill would require state and local election officials to accept student photo ID as a current and valid photo ID in federal elections.