CIVICS UNPLUGGED CASE BRIEF

Over the past couple of months I had the opportunity to be a part of a fellowship with Civics Unplugged. During this fellowship I was able to collaborate with other fellows and learn problem solving skills for innovation. For the final project we were asked to identify a vexing problem our society faces and to ponder solutions to this issue. I picked voter turnout because more than ever, this year has touched on the importance of voter turnout to protect reproductive rights. 

How to Increase Voter Turnout 

Issue 

Voting in presidential and midterm elections is a privilege Americans have, but not everyone takes advantage of. There are many issues involving Election Day, causing voter turnout to be low. In the 2020 presidential election, only 62.8% of people eligible to vote went to the ballots, placing the United States at the 31st country out of 50 in terms of voting turnout of people who are above 18. Local and midterm elections are arguably even more important as people are voting for representatives who will make policies that influence their local communities, and these elections have an even lower turnout. This year was a higher year for younger voter turnout during the midterms–resulting in 27% of voters ages 18-29 heading to the ballots. Although this year was quite promising, we cannot assume that turnouts will continue to be high for the future, which is why we need to find a way to ensure higher voter turnout for the midterm and presidential elections in the years to come. There are many factors that contribute to lack of turnout; Carnegie Corporation of New York identified 11 barriers. Some of these include reduced early voting and reduced voting hours. Addressing these barriers and ensuring increased participation in voting will ensure the longevity of our democracy. 

Analysis 

There have been legislation and ideas implemented to help increase the voter turnout in the past, but not all have been as successful as intended. Twenty-one states offer same-day registration on Election Day and two offer same-day registration during the early voting period. In a study done by University of Massachusetts Amherst, it is shown that states that allow same-day registration have a higher African American and Latinx turnout. The turnout is 2-17 percentage points higher than states that do not offer same-day registration. This tactic is proven beneficial in increasing voter turnout of minority populations; therefore, it should be enacted across all fifty states as a way to ensure that people’s voices are being heard. 

Additionally, in January of 2016, Oregon passed the Voter Motor Act, allowing a safe, simple, and easy way to become a registered voter. The legislation automatically registers all citizens over 18 to vote. It eliminates the step of filling out the voter registration card at the DMV. Instead, eligible people of Oregon will receive a letter in the mail displaying their options for how to become a registered voter. This legislation makes it easy and simple to become a registered voter, and it should be an option across the country to increase the number of younger voters. 

Non-profit organizations have played a key role in pushing for these changes, such as Fair Fight Action. Fair Fight Action is an organization led by Georgia politician Stacey Abrams to make voting more equitable. Their mission is to fight against voter suppression and to encourage people to vote along with empowering people of color. By bringing in more voters of color in crucial races such as the 2021 Georgia Senate runoff elections, people have accredited Stacey Abrams and Fair Fight Action with increasing voter turnout. Grassroots organizations can be a powerful way to get community members involved and create change in the voting landscape. 

Solutions

There are several ways to approach this situation of voter turnout. In New York City, the public schools are closed on November 8, as these schools serve as polling stations. This creates an issue for parents of younger children or parents who may not afford childcare. On Election Day, not only do these parents now have to care for their kids on top of working, but they have to find a way to head to the polls. The solution is to move polling stations across NYC to sports facilities and libraries to allow the public schools to stay open. This way, parents will have an easier way of finding time to vote without worrying about attending to their kids. 

College students also face some difficulty when they have to vote. There are two solutions for voting during college: submit an absentee ballot or change the state you are registered in. However, changing your registration state is a lot of work, and not everyone knows how to do so, leading to more students needing to submit absentee ballots. However, different states have specific laws regarding who is eligible for an absentee ballot. This creates confusion and inequality for students who are not eligible for them, but still want to vote. All states should provide the same legislation and laws behind who can receive an absentee ballot. If all fifty states expand the list of who qualifies for an absentee ballot, it will expand voter rights and increase in younger voters. 

There has been a closure of polling stations across the states and especially in Texas, Arizona, and Georgia. These closures started after the landmark Shelby County v. Holder decision that questioned the constitutionality of sections of the Voting Rights Act, a decision which had repercussions for voting discrimination and suppression. The reduced number of polling sites and new voting ID laws had a severely negative impact on lower-income minorities and limited the amount of minority people who could vote. Historical limitations have existed for decades dating back to literacy tests and poll taxes, ever since African Americans were granted the right to vote. To make sure that there are no other limitations on minority groups when voting, we need to open more polling stations in lower-income communities. This will ensure that everyone has an equal opportunity to participate in our democratic system.  

Further Questions 

Despite these attempted solutions, there still remain some unanswered questions: How will these new polling stations be adequately staffed? Is there a greater chance for voter fraud with an increased number of absentee ballots? How are citizens who do not have proper identification affected by the requirements to vote? Why is there a trend in limiting voter turnout of minorities? Does the U.S. aim to silence some communities by putting in strict legislation? All these questions and more need to be reflected upon before proposing legislation to increase voter turnout.