Building Democracy

Building
Democracy
The importance of non-partisan
registration in 2012

Thursday, September 8, 2011

-Ari Berman, Rolling Stone
Magazine


"I don't want everybody to vote," the inﬂuential
conservative activist Paul Weyrich told a gathering of
evangelical leaders in 1980. "As a matter of fact, our
leverage in the elections quite candidly goes up as the
voting populace goes down."
Magazine


"I don't want everybody to vote," the inﬂuential
Its the struggle we’ve been
conservative activist Paul Weyrich told a gathering of
evangelical leaders in 1980. "As a matter of fact, our
in for 200 years
leverage in the elections quite candidly goes up as the
voting populace goes down."
Magazine


It begins with the right to vote


A right that many before us have dedicated their
lives to securing


We make progress when we


stand

We make progress when we


stand

We make progress when we and ﬁght.


Its time to support the ﬁght.


Because every citizen deserves the right to vote.

I
VOTED


Today


Today
not everyone


Today
not everyone
has the same
Voice

At the great equalizer--the ballot box...


Not everyone is equally represented
Voter Registration Rates
80%

60%

40%

20%

0%
Rest of African Unmarried Youth American Hispanic Asian/Paciﬁc
Population American Women Indian Islander

What would it
take to achieve
registration
equality?


What would it
take to achieve
registration
equality?
7.4 million registrations


Its not enough to engage only those
I who are already registered.
VOTED


Those who are
Are the future
not yet registered


Will also shape the
future


Registered

In 2008, for every 1 of these
Didn’t vote
voters who were registered
but didn’t vote...


NOT
Registered

There were 4
more who were
never registered


This struggle for registration equality has
become more urgent than ever before
because...


Our
is c countr
han y
ging


2018

Our
is c countr
han y
ging


2018

Our
is c countr
han y
ging

By 2018, people of color and unmarried women will
be a majority of the citizen voting age population

This is the Emerging Majority


And they could dramatically shi the
landscape of American politics


But only if they are registered to vote.

I
VOTED


We’ve come a long way


TO CLOSING THE
REGISTRATION GAP


TO CLOSING THE
REGISTRATION GAP
40

30
Millions

20 2004

10

0
African Americans Latinos Asian Americans Youth Unmarried Women

Registrants


TO CLOSING THE
REGISTRATION GAP
40

30
Millions

20 2008

10

0
African Americans Latinos Asian Americans Youth Unmarried Women

Registrants


In 2012, we can signiﬁcantly narrow the gap
that remains:


Voter Registration Rates

80%

60%

40%

20%

0%

If the Emerging Majority were registered at the
same rate as the rest of the population, the
electorate would grow by 7.4 million new voters.


And achieve the most representative
democracy in our country’s history.


We know the journey won’t be easy


The Emerging Majority is already changing our
future as a country


Change makes some people nervous


That’s why on the heels of our greatest
registration success in 2008...


...our country is facing the greatest assault on
voting rights in 50 years.


This is where the Emerging Majority lives:


They’ve introduced laws requiring photo ID, costing American
tax payers money to exercise their basic rights.

X
X X
X X X X
X X
X
X
X X X X XXX X X X
X X X X XX
X X X
X XX X
X
X
X

They’ve passed laws making it harder
to conduct voter registration drives

X
X X
X X X X XX
X
X XXX X X X
X X
X X XX X
XX X XX X
X X X X X
X XX X
X X
XX
XX

Anti Same-day Registration Laws

X
XX XX
X X XX X XX
X
X
X XXX X X X
X X
X X XX X
XX X XX X
X X X X X
X XX X
X X
XX
XX

And they have discredited organizations dedicated to bringing
new voters into our democracy.

XX
XXX X X XX
X
X XX XX
XX
X X X XX X X X XX
X
X
X
X X X X XX X X
X
X X XX X XX X X XX
XX X X XX XX X
XX XX XX X X
XX XX X XX X X XX
X XX
X XX
X X
XXX X XX
XX
X

We have a choice to make


Retreat in the face of challenge


or...

Re-
invest Re-
commit
Deepen
our
Resolve
Collaborate


or...

Re-
invest Re-
commit
Deepen
our
Resolve
Collaborate ..and work smarter
than ever before.

We’re digging in and getting ready...


Our plans for 2012


We believe we can make progress toward
representational democracy in at least 22 states
in 2012


But it won’t happen naturally, without resources,
focus and organizing


Our goal is to register 5.6 million voters in 22 states
and it will cost $60 Million


We’re designing our voter registration
programs to take head on the challenges we
know exist.


CHALLENGE

The Emerging Majority is younger than the
rest of the electorate


CHALLENGE


16%


CHALLENGE


16%

84%


CHALLENGE


16%
Age 18-29
Age 30+

84%

Rest of Electorate


CHALLENGE


16%
Age 18-29 28% Age 18-29
Age 30+ Age 30+

72%
84%

Rest of Electorate Emerging Majority


SOLUTION
We are meeting them where they are.


SOLUTION
Online


SOLUTION
Online

+


SOLUTION
Online Mail

+


SOLUTION
Online Mail

+

Birthday
Programs


SOLUTION
Online Mail

+

Birthday Movers
Programs


SOLUTION
Online Mail

+ +

Birthday Movers
Programs


SOLUTION
Online Mail Field

+ +

Birthday Movers
Programs


SOLUTION
Online Mail Field

+ +

Peer-to-Peer

Birthday Movers
Programs


SOLUTION
Online Mail Field

+ +

Trusted
Messenger
Peer-to-Peer

Birthday Movers
Programs


SOLUTION
Online Mail Field

+ +

Trusted
Messenger
Peer-to-Peer Events

Birthday Movers
Programs


SOLUTION
Online Mail Field

+ +

Trusted
Messenger
Peer-to-Peer Events

Birthday Movers
Programs

Congregation


SOLUTION
Online Mail Field

+ +

Trusted
Messenger
Peer-to-Peer Events

Birthday Movers
Programs

Congregation Door-to-Door


SOLUTION
Online Mail Field

+ +

Trusted
Messenger
Peer-to-Peer Events

Birthday Movers
Programs

Congregation Door-to-Door HS


CHALLENGE

The Emerging Majority has borne the brunt of the
economic crisis


CHALLENGE

economic crisis

Foreclosure


CHALLENGE

economic crisis

Foreclosure Foreclosure


CHALLENGE

economic crisis

Foreclosure Foreclosure Foreclosure


CHALLENGE

economic crisis

Foreclosure Foreclosure Foreclosure Foreclosure


CHALLENGE

economic crisis

Foreclosure Foreclosure Foreclosure Foreclosure Foreclosure


CHALLENGE

Unemployment and record foreclosures hits the
Emerging Majority hardest of all.

Foreclosure Foreclosure Foreclosure Foreclosure Foreclosure


CHALLENGE Foreclosure Foreclosure
Foreclosure

46% 46% 47%
Foreclosure
Foreclosure
35%
33%

% population that has moved in past 4 years

Rest of White, Non Emerging Unmarried People of
Population Hispanic Majority Women Color

SOLUTION

So in 2012, our targeted work will include
re-registering those who have recently moved.

Movers


CHALLENGE

Emerging Majority voters are not always
easy to ﬁnd


SOLUTION

So in 2012 we are working to integrate mail,
online and ﬁeld programs more than ever
before.


SOLUTION

before.
Online


SOLUTION

before.
Online

+


SOLUTION

before.
Online Mail

+


SOLUTION

before.
Online Mail

+ +


SOLUTION

before.
Online Mail Field

+ +


CHALLENGE

We need to learn more about best practices
for voter registration in the current climate


SOLUTION

We are developing a research agenda for 2012


We are also working together and learning
from each other


Voter
Registration Volunteer
Law & Recruitment
Practices &
Leadership
Emergency
Response
Consistent
Data
Management

We’ll start cross-training in:

Voter
Law & Recruitment
Practices &
Leadership
Emergency
Response
Consistent
Data
Management

And we are developing :

Voter
Law & Recruitment
Practices &
Leadership
Emergency
Response
Consistent
Data
Management


Voter
Registration Volunteer Shared Budgeting
Law & Recruitment
Practices &
Leadership
Emergency
Response
Consistent
Data
Management


Voter
Registration Volunteer Shared Budgeting
Law & Recruitment
Practices &
Leadership
Outcomes Systems
Emergency
Response
Consistent
Data
Management

To do this, we need to work together.


WHY INVEST NOW?


Voter Registration
Is an eﬀective way
to steward our
Resources

It is the most predictable and
cost-eﬀective method for voter turnout


GOTV and voter education are important
techniques but registration generates more votes


This year, we can test to demonstrate impact.

Expenditure per Probability of
Voter Impact

Most of the
Turnout $80*
time

Most of the
Registration $12
time


Voter registration leverages the heat of elections. It
is more eﬀective in Presidential years when people
are engaged and there is increased media
attention.


Once registered, about 70% of new voters will
turn out to vote in their ﬁrst Presidential cycle.


And once they vote, they are 49% more
likely to keep voting


THE BENEFITS


When we succeed, we will achieve
registration equality for the ﬁrst time in
American history


Voter Registration Equality
80%

60%

40%

20%

0%

Tipping the balance of power


As we approach
registration equality
the Emerging
Majority can
hold the
balance of
power in many
close
elections.


Elections where independent voter registration
exceeded margin of victory in 200
8
Presidential Senate House

OH (1,15)

NV(
FL

3)
IN

CA
MN CT (4)
AL (2)

(4)
OH

MO

FL
M
D

(8,
LA
(1)

2
NC

(3

5)
,4,
5)

This does not favor
any party
or candidate
over another


But it means in close elections, if the Emerging
Majority are registered, they can make the
diﬀerence.


Their voices


Their voices
are more likely


Their voices
are more likely
to be heard


And if they


And if they
are


And if they
are
heard


It can make a diﬀerence in policy priorities


LILLY LEDBETTER

It can make a diﬀerence in policy priorities


Strengthening our Democracy


Democracy is not only built on Election Day

...but also through the hard work it takes to engage
voters a erwards

Voter registration is an essential entry point to
democracy

...and if done correctly, it can strengthen civic
participation by turning voters into changemakers

Newly Registered Volunteer Activist Changemaker
Voter


GETTING TO WORK


We’ve already begun the hard work we know
it will take to move our country forward


In 2012 over 60 organizations will be
working together to register voters
across AMERICA


We saw what was possible with commitment
and investment...


15,000

11,250

7,500

3,750

0
2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012


15,000
Registration
Inequality
Gap
11,250

7,500

3,750

0
2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012


15,000
Registrations
Registration submitted by
Inequality independent
Gap groups
11,250

7,500

3,750

0
2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012


When independent groups
are well funded
15,000

11,250

7,500

3,750

0
2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012


The inequality gap
decreases
15,000

11,250

7,500

3,750

0
2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012


We can’t take it for granted that voter registration
will happen on its own


We’ve seen what happens when we don’t have the
resources necessary
15,000

11,250

7,500

3,750

0
2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012


Voter registration will not
happen if we don’t
act together


Will you join us?


Together, we can rebuild
our democracy and start
to rebuild America.


Building Democracy

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

More from Kristen Dore

More from Kristen Dore (7)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (8)

Building Democracy