New Project Vote Policy Paper: Early Voting

Project Vote's map of early and absentee voting, 2013.

Last month, Project Vote released their latest policy paper, this one on Early Voting. Although voting has traditionally taken place on a single Election Day, in recent years many states have expanded opportunities to vote before Election Day--generally to accommodate voter schedules and in the hopes of increasing turnout. 

Early voting allows voters to cast their ballots in person but at alternative times and locations, in addition to on Election Day at their traditional polling place. It is now in use in 30 states, as well as the District of Columbia. Some states also offer no-excuse absentee voting, allowing voters to fill out and mail or deliver a ballot before Election Day--without having to provide a reason for voting absentee.

In the 2012 election, early voting and absentee voting together accounted for 30% or more of all votes cast in 21 of the states. In Florida, about 50% of ballots were cast early.

Read the policy paper for more information.

States Are Improving Elections in 2013

This year has seen a number of new laws that will improve ballot access and streamline the election process for both voters and elections officials.

Colorado recently passed the Voter Access and Modernized Elections Act that includes provisions for Election Day Registration and portable registration, in addition to creating a bipartisan task force to study voting changes and consider future reforms.

Last month, Florida Governor Rick Scott signed HB 7013 into law which will take effect January 1, 2014. The new law increases the number of early voting days and hours allowed, expands the types of sites that can be used as early voting locations, allows new residents to change their addresses at the polls, and gives absentee voters who forgot to sign their ballot the opportunity to correct the mistake.

In addition to expanding early voting, Maryland will allow same-day registration during the early voting period beginning in 2016. Both Virginia and West Virginia have passed online voter registration, bringing the number of states that have passed or implemented online registration to nineteen.

Florida Set to Overhaul Elections

It seems Florida will once again be making changes to its election law: the Senate passed HB 7013 that Governor Rick Scott has indicated he will sign.

The bill counteracts much of the 2011 law that truncated early voting, changed provisional ballot rules, and stiffened rules on voter registration. These changes--combined with record turnout and a particularly lengthy ballot--meant that some Floridians waited in line six hours to vote on November 6th. HB 7013 seeks to improve the election experience by:

• Increasing the number of early voting days and the hours allowed each day. Supervisors of elections must offer at least 64 hours of early voting over the course of 8 days, with a minimum of 8 hours each day, but may offer up to 168 hours over 14 days, with 12 hours each day--allowing once again for the possibility of Souls to the Polls on the Sunday before Election Day.
• Expanding possible early voting locations. Elections supervisors may now hold early voting at civic centers, convention centers, county commission buildings courthouses, fairgrounds, and government-owned community centers, and government-owned senior centers. Currently, early voting can only be held at supervisors' offices, city halls, or public libraries. 
• Allowing new county residents to change their addresses at the polls on Election Day and vote by regular ballots rather than provisional ballots. 
• Allowing absentee voters who forget to sign a ballot to correct their mistake. Thousands of unsigned ballots were invalidated in 2012.
• Limiting Legislature-proposed amendment ballot summaries to 75 words or less. (The word limit can be exceeded if summaries need to be rewritten because the Supreme Court strikes them down for being misleading.)

If signed by Governor Scott, the law will take effect January 1, 2014 and applying these changes ahead of the next midterm election.

Election Highlights from 2012

The 2012 election is over, but there's plenty to learn from the results. Early voting was popular, particularly in battleground states: 69% of votes in Nevada were cast early along with 53% in Florida, 72% in Colorado, and 42% in Iowa. Many voters are taking advantage of early voting opportunities and the flexibility it affords in deciding when and how to vote. These changes are causing nonprofits, communities, and campaigns to rethink the ways they approach Election Day.

Minority voters cast a record 28% of the votes, up from 26% in 2008. For the first time ever, black voters may have voted at a higher rate than white voters. While this is not yet confirmed, the rise in black turnout has been driven by increases in voter participation, not by demographic shifts, as is often the case with other minority groups. According to Pew Hispanic Center projections, Latinos will account for 40% of the growth in the eligible electorate between now and 2030, at which time 40 million Latinos will be eligible to vote--up from 23.7 million now.

Although lagging in overall numbers, youth participation is becoming a critical factor in deciding elections. 46 million youth were eligible to vote in the November 2012 election, including 16.8 million who became eligible since 2008.

Additional turnout information will be available later this year in the next installment of our America Goes to the Polls series and in the Census Current Population Survey: Voting and Registration Supplement.

Google Polling Place Finder: Now Live!

Find your polling place! November 6th is just a week away--get the tools you need for a successful Election Day. Whether you're helping people find their polling place or looking for last minute get-out-the-vote resources, ensure you're prepared for Election Day!

Google Poll Finder
The 2012 Google Poll Finder tool is now live! It uses official information from state elections offices and Secretaries of State to provide voters with current voting information. Type in your address to find your polling place and directions. Use the Ballot Summary Menu Bar on the right to view your candidate choices for president, Congress, and state legislatures.

• Embed the tool on your website to raise the profile of the election.
• Share the link with your audience.
• Set up a computer in your lobby on Election Day to allow voters to check their voting information.

Early Voting Opportunities
Early voting was suspended in Maryland and the District of Columbia on Monday due to Hurricane Sandy. Most polling places are expected to be up and running on Election Day, but there could be residual issues as a result of the storm. In Virginia, the board of elections has decided to allow people to cite Hurricane Sandy as a reason they need to vote early. Help your community vote early with:

• Nonprofit VOTE's 50 state map.
• Long Distance Voter's guide to early voting.

Browse additional 2012 election tools and resources and make voters aware of their rights at the polls.

Promote Early Voting Now!

Don't wait until November 6th, vote early! The election is underway and your organization can encourage voters to participate now by voting early. Early voting is available in many states, but dates and requirements vary. Voting early in-person or by mail gives voters increased flexibility and the chance to address any problems that may arise at the polls ahead of Election Day.  Nationwide, early voting has become increasingly popular: In 2008 about 33% of votes were cast before Election Day and in 2012 that number could top 40%. Avoid potential lines on November 6th and encourage your community to give the convenience of voting early a try!

Promote Early Voting by:

1. Arranging to transport groups of voters to early voting sites.
2. Distributing absentee ballot request forms.
3. Providing details in your online and in-person communications.
4. Communicating with staff in meetings and all-staff emails.
5. Discussing it during classes, trainings, and events.

Early Voting Tools:

1. Use our 50 state map to contact your local elections office for deadlines and details on how to vote early.
2. Check your state's early voting rules, compiled by Long Distance Voter.
3. Request an absentee ballot using the U.S. Vote Foundation's state-specific tool.

Encourage your community to get a head start on Election Day by voting early!

The 2012 Election is Underway!

With early voting underway in 35 states, the 2012 presidential election is officially underway! While the current majority of early voting is taking place via absentee ballot, seven states already have in-person polling stations up and running.

With just weeks to go before November 6th, it's critical that nonprofits keep this election in the spotlight. Use your communications to share election information, deadlines, and reminders.

In 2008 about 33% of votes were cast before Election Day and in 2012 that number could top 40%. Learn about early voting options--both in-person and by mail--in your state. Request your absentee ballot.

Although balloting is underway, voters can still register to vote in most states. Check your state's registration deadline and make sure your community is registered and ready to vote on (or before) November 6th!

Four Ways to Promote Voting Now!

Election Day is just weeks away and your voter engagement efforts can have an enormous impact on turnout. Voter registration deadlines are fast approaching but early voting will be underway in many states before they've even passed. In 2008 about 33% of ballots were cast before Election Day--either by mail or in person. This year as many as 40% of ballots are expected to be cast before November 6th. The effort to turn out voters has already begun and your organization can help. Use the ideas below to engage your community and ensure everyone participates on November 6th!

1. Participate in National Voter Registration Day on September 25th and join thousands of nonprofits across the country as we register our communities to vote. It can be as simple as registering your staff or publicizing the voter registration deadline.
2. Support voting and order a free "Vote November 6" kit--it includes a poster, button, stickers, and a list of sample activities for nonprofits. Use the materials to spark conversations about the election and increase turnout.
3. Educate voters on their early voting options. Help voters request an absentee ballot or find an early voting location. Get more information about absentee and early voting in your state.
4. Register for our October 11th web event--Nonprofits Get Out the Vote! Countdown to Election Day--for nonprofit-specific get-out-the-vote strategies and a discussion with sector leaders.

For additional ideas, browse our list of 10 Things to Do Between Now and Election Day.

Tied Down by Tuesday?

Next week voters in Indiana, North Carolina, and West Virginia will head to the polls to vote on federal and state offices in addition to a number of ballot questions. (Visit Ballotpedia for more on what's on the ballot in every state this year.)

But before Tuesday rolls around, Why Tuesday uses a new infographic to examine the impact of voting on Tuesday.

It suggests that having Election Day on a Tuesday may be stifling U.S. voter turnout, noting that our national turnout rates trail those of countries that have Election Day on either a weekend or designate it as a holiday. It also notes that in every U.S. election since 1996, the number one reason voters gave for not casting a ballot was "too busy/couldn’t get time off to vote" and that in 2010 27% of voters gave this answer.

Increasing turnout probably won't require that we drop Tuesday altogether, but we should be seeking ways to expand access to the ballot through early in-person voting opportunities (including weekends) and simplified vote-by-mail options. Of course there's a role for nonprofits as well: we can help increase turnout by reminding our clients of the upcoming election, answering questions, and offering to help locate their polling place.

If your jurisdiction has an election next week, ask your constituents to think about their plans for voting, or suggest that they take their kids along to see what elections are all about. Whether or not we vote on Tuesday, we can still help ensure everyone has the opportunity to participate!

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Happy Thanksgiving!

In honor of Thanksgiving, we wanted to share just a few of the many things Nonprofit VOTE is grateful for this year.

We're thankful for…

• Our amazing network of state and national partners and their commitment to expanding nonprofit voter engagement among their affiliates.
• Election Day Registration because it ensures that everyone who wants to vote can, without having to worry about missing the registration deadline. 
• Early voting opportunities--both by mail and in-person--that make voting more convenient and accessible for everyone.
• The upcoming 2012 election, because after two years of nonstop talk and speculation, it's finally less than a year away. (Sign up for our December 1st webinar on making a 2012 voter engagement plan.)
• The elections officials, Secretaries of State, local elections boards, and registrars who make elections happen!

This is a short list and doesn't even begin to cover the thousands of local nonprofits registering and engaging voters everyday. So while we don't have space to write out every thing, person, election reform, and organization we're thankful for, we still want to say "Thank you!"

Happy Thanksgiving from Nonprofit VOTE!

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Ohio Election Law Suspended

A controversial Ohio election law (HB 194) set to take effect on Friday has been suspended, pending the outcome of a November 2012 referendum.

If implemented, the law would prohibit counties from mailing out unsolicited absentee ballot applications, end the "golden week" when people can register to vote and cast a ballot on the same day, and reduce the number of early voting days.

Opponents of HB 194 gathered 318,460 petition signatures in support of a referendum to overturn the law. 231,147 of the signatures must be verified in order for the law to remain suspended and for the issue to be placed before voters in 2012. Secretary of State Jon Husted said the verification process will not be completed before this fall's election.

In other good news, as the law has been suspended, early voting for the November 8 election begins today. Happy Election Day Buckeyes!

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Mayor Bloomberg Pushes for Election Reform

After voicing his support for San Francisco's Saturday Voting Act, NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg is stepping up to the plate. Earlier this week, Bloomberg proposed a series of election reforms, including provisions for early voting, moving the registration deadline closer to Election Day, simplifying the ballot, and making absentee voting easier.

His proposals are based on this study, and will require the approval of state lawmakers in order to be implemented. Bloomberg stressed the need for reform, citing the state's low turnout--in the last three federal elections New York averaged 47th in voter turnout. The mayor was supported by activists and state lawmakers who argue that New York has some of the most restrictive voting laws in the country. If approved, these changes will increase access to the vote, and hopefully create more competitive elections.

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1 in 3 voters voted early in 2008

This chart from Paul Gronke of the Early Information Voting Center (from a briefing presented at the Election Reform Agenda Conference in Iowa last week) shows how Early Voting has steadily grown in popularity among the 50 states over the past 18 years. A good overview of current status and best practices for Early Voting legislation.

New Reports: Voter Turnout, Early Vote, EDR

The Return of the Voter: Voter Turnout in the 2008 Presidential Election – By Michael P. McDonald, The Forum, January 2009 ·

The 2008 Early Vote – Prepared by Democracy Corps, January 2009 - With nearly a third of ballots cast prior to November 4, Democracy Corps analyzes who voted early and why during the 2008 presidential election.

Voters Win with Election Day Registration (PDF)

North Carolina's One-Stop Voting Success

North Carolina’s voter turnout grew by 13.5% this year, which owes a large debt to the states new one-stop registration/voting program. The reform was responsible for 50%-75% of votes in participating counties. Read more in NVEN's turnout brief.

NYT - Election Officials Try to Ease Long Voting Lines

MIAMI -- Unprecedented numbers of early voters in Florida and other southern states are prompting election officials to add equipment, extend schedules and hand out water and chairs to make people comfortable as they wait for hours at polling places. Read more...