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These voters are using democracy vouchers to influence Seattle's City Council races

Daniel Beekman

June 12, 2019 |

The Seattle Times |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Seattle, Washington

In Seattle, taxpayers are funding a program called democracy vouchers, in which registered voters and other eligible residents receive $25 vouchers that they can contribute toward city council races. In this program unique to Seattle, each donor can contribute up to four vouchers, which are helping to diversify the field for grassroots candidates.

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The End of the Polling Booth

Tina Rosenberg

June 11, 2019 |

The New York Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Oregon

In Washington, Oregon, and Colorado, the traditional polling place has all but disappeared. In its place is the rise of the mail-in ballot, a convenient, inclusive method where states mail ballots to every registered voter--automatically. Evidence from all three of those states, as well as five California counties with a similar initiative, have showed an increase in voter turnout.

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Nonprofit's Free App Flags Suspicious Changes to Voter Rolls

Andrew Westrope

May 29, 2019 |

Government Technology |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Iowa

Non-profit organization Protect Democracy has created a free web application called VoteShield, which uses statistics, machine learning, and data visualization to track and flag any unusual changes in local public voter databases. Already in use in 14 states, the application allows secretaries of state and other election administrators to act on and correct these changes before voters get turned away at the polls.

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'It changes the way you see everything': the shocking film about gerrymandering

Adrian Horton

May 01, 2019 |

The Guardian |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Michigan

In a time of extreme division in American politics, one documentary is highlighting an issue both sides agree is an issue--gerrymandering. As contorted districts have made elections pointless in many Michigan elections, the grassroots group Voters Not Politicians, featured in a recent documentary Slay the Dragon, worked to establish an independent, public citizen's commission for redistricting.

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An Unusual Way to Bridge the Town-Gown Divide

James Fallows

May 01, 2019 |

The Atlantic |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Muncie, Indiana

Ball State University and Muncie, Indiana, are forging an inventive town-gown partnership. In 2018, the school became the first public university to assume responsibility for the city's public schools. The transition has involved intentional community engagement and sparked community enthusiasm that had waned in recent decades and resulted in a dramatically declining school population.

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Youth Voter Turnout Is Already Ridiculously High In Colorado. State House Democrats Want It Even Higher

Sam Brasch

April 24, 2019 |

Colorado Public Radio |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Colorado

In 2013, Colorado lawmakers passed a comprehensive voting reform bill which put a mail-in ballot in every voter's mailbox and allowed for same-day voter registration. Many credit the bill for boosting youth voting 13 percent in the past year, putting Colorado second behind Minnesota for highest youth voting turnout.

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S.F. immigrants seek to expand civic footprint

Nuria Marquez Martinez

April 22, 2019 |

Bay City News Foundation |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, San Francisco, California

Elevating the voices of noncitizen community members takes building trust through outreach and education. After the passage of Proposition N, allowing local non-citizens in San Francisco to participate in school board elections, a number of immigrant advocacy groups have mobilized to educate residents about their right to civic participation. Groups like the Central American Resource Center (CARECEN) and the Immigrant Parent Voting Collaborative (IPVC) are working to organize numerous grassroots efforts promoting the civic engagement of non-citizens.

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Tech for Turnout

Roxanne Patel Shepelavy

April 17, 2019 |

The Philadelphia Citizen |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Illinois

High tech tools offer low cost ways to reach many voters and mobilize turnout, especially in mid term elections. From applications that allow campaigns to deliver personal text messages to hundreds of people at once, to new digital platforms for online polling and campaign management, many of the successful campaigns launched across the country during and after 2016 have leveraged these tech innovations to engage with voters.

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Bernalillo County's Mobile Voting Unit

Gene Grant Kevin McDonald

April 16, 2019 |

KNME-PBS |

Broadcast TV News |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, New Mexico

A mobile voting unit in Bernalillo County helped 1,733 people vote in 2018. The county rented a large RV, customized it with voting stations, and sent it to public areas, including senior centers where people can have a difficult time getting to the polls. The RV had a wheel chair lift but no stair rail, so staff helped people walk in and out. Staff was also trained to operate the equipment and keep it stocked with ballots and supplies. The county plans to purchase its own RV for future elections and has fielded inquiries from other localities that want to implement mobile voting units in their districts.

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Change the narrative: how a Swiss group is beating rightwing populists

Jon Henley

April 07, 2019 |

The Guardian |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Switzerland

A group called Operation Libero in Switzerland has successfully rallied against rising right-wing populist groups by using different approaches like small-scale crowdfunding, eye-catching tongue-in-cheek campaigns, and viral social media videos. During one campaign, young Operation Libero volunteers handed out branded condoms to nightclubbers.

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