We don’t get a lot of sleep these days (thanks to the guy in the White House)… but here are some numbers keeping us up at night right now:
One in five. 40 percent. 435 and 35.
- One in five eligible voters in the US isn’t registered to vote. (Are you? If not, what are you waiting for?!)
- 40 percent of eligible voters sat out the 2016 election.
- 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats are up for grabs (not to mention school boards, city councils, district attorney and judgeships, state houses, and governorships across the country).
All signs point to a historic midterm election with massive civic participation, but it won’t happen unless we do. the. work.
Just like we demystified Congress last year, we’re now demystifying voter registration and elections. Here’s our plan to help Indivisible groups register tens of thousands of new voters:
- Trainings (both virtual and in-person) and in-depth resources and toolkits on how to host voter registration events, register voters, and keep newly registered voters engaged all the way to election day.
- Ongoing support from our organizing staff from now until election day. They’ll give tips, tricks, and best practices of voter registration to group leaders. We’re doubling our organizing team in the next few weeks to make sure we can provide more hands-on support for the thousands of Indivisible groups across the country.
- Groups will soon be able to request a snazzy, customized TurboVote page, where they can register voters on a phone, tablet, or computer! And best of all? TurboVote is like a personal assistant for voting… which means the folks they register will get voting primary and general election reminders for elections in their area.
Why are we investing in voter registration?
We know. You might not think of us as the go-to organization for voter registration. But just like our policy wonks demystified congress and gave our movement the tools to #resist on TrumpCare and the Tax Scam, our political team is ready to demystify elections and give Indivisibles the tools they need to build a massive civic engagement program from coast to coast.
One of those first (of many!) tools: everything Indivisibles need to register their communities to vote. And we have a strategy that aligns with our movement’s values:
➜ Growing civic participation in our communities: Voter registration will grow the electorate, strengthen our groups’ membership, and build this movement to last. Oh, and newly registered voters are waaaaaaaaaaymore likely to vote than the average voter.
➜ Reaching communities traditionally left behind: We’ll focus on registering voters who’ve been traditionally underrepresented in the political process — communities of color, students, and rural communities. Registering voters, and informing them of their rights, is crucial to fighting discriminatory laws like voter ID and shortened voting periods.
➜ Bucking conventional political wisdom: Voter registration in presidential elections is typically higher. But, as we’ve seen in special elections in Virginia, Alabama, and Pennsylvania, people are energized. We believe know that November’s elections could be defined by unusually high-engagement… especially if we register more voters.
One of our greatest strengths as a movement is our reach — Indivisibles are e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e. And that’s why, if we invest in voter registration that aligns with our movement’s values, we know we’ll have a HUGE impact on this election.
We’re excited about this plan, and we’re ready to get to work. So, if you’re excited too, consider chipping in $37 (our average donation) to help fund our work to register tens of thousands of voters. And your donation will be matched one-for-one!
In solidarity,
Indivisible Team
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