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Inside Democrats' efforts to fight election security threats

Eric Geller

November 02, 2020 |

Politico |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) built up its digital defenses, successfully protecting the 2018 midterm election from the cyber-hacking that occurred in 2016. The DNC now trains staff to spot cyber threats, conducts simulated phishing campaigns to test employees’ vigilance, and security staffers regularly meet with their House and Senate campaign counterparts to offer their security expertise. The DNC also requires protections, such as two-factor authentication, which requires a temporary code in addition to a user’s password and conducts regular “spot checks” of Democrats’ cybersecurity practices.

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Power of the people: Get-out-the-vote efforts blanket the U.S.

Claire Galofaro Jocelyn Novek

October 29, 2020 |

Associated Press |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States

National get-out-the-vote efforts are turning out people to vote, despite Covid19-related challenges. Vote Forward organized 182,000 people to participate in a 50-state letter writing campaign urging people in over 17.5 million homes to vote. “Protest to the Polls” led a voter information parade through Louisville’s predominantly Black West End. The Neighborhood Assistance Corporations of America has driven 25,000 people to the polls in three states. Other GOTV efforts include texting and phone banking, peer-to-peer outreach, drive-in rallies and caravans, and entertainment for those in line at the polls.

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Twitch-inspired live streams could be the future of political fundraising

Steven Melendez

October 28, 2020 |

FastCompany |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States

Hovercast is a technology startup helping democratic organizations add interactivity to virtual events. The model, which has been used by prominent political candidates such as Bernie Sanders, uses interactive live-streaming features like on-screen highlighted comments, real-time donation meters, trivia questions, polls, videos, and animated GIFs to collect donations, sign up campaign volunteers, and encourage other types of voter engagement. The model is inspired by video gaming platforms that are geared towards younger audiences, which is one of the demographic groups engaging in the virtual events.

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How diverse is your government? These two laws changed who holds power in California

Kim Bojórquez

October 05, 2020 |

Sacramento Bee |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, California

In California, two laws have helped to open opportunities for less experienced candidates to win state and local offices, which has increased representation among people of color. A 1990 law set term limits for the state legislature, which forces turnover, and the California Voting Rights Act allowed communities of color to demand electoral changes, including by-district elections that have increased Latinx and Black representatives at the local level. These laws have helped to level the playing field but the benefits have not occurred across all districts, instead they tend to be driven by a few cities.

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Black women legislators are rare in statehouses. This could be the solution.

Barbara Rodriguez

September 25, 2020 |

The 19th |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Washington

A newly established PAC in Washington state aims to increase the likelihood of Black women being elected to Washington State Legislature by eliminating the financial barrier that often impedes candidates from running their campaigns on an equal playing field. Although it is yet to be seen how the elections will turn out, the PAC has already succeeded in fundraising over $200,000 and distributing those funds to various campaigns.

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REDMAP

Noel King Karen Duffin

September 23, 2020 |

NPR |

Radio |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United States

The Redistricting Majority Project, or REDMAP, used a sophisticated mapping technology and fund-raising strategy to flip 21 states' legislatures from Democratic to Republican control after the 2010 Census. That campaign, which poured money into hundreds of local elections to affect the outcomes, made a major impact on partisan gerrymandering of congressional districts in the following years, and on state policymaking. With the Supreme Court's refusal to block such tactics, the post-2020 Census promises to feature even more partisan manipulation of districts and local elections.

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How to Save Ballot Drop Boxes

Eric Cortellessa

September 16, 2020 |

Washington Monthly |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States

Voting by mail will increase dramatically due to Covid-19 and drop boxes are one way to collect these ballots. Although fears of fraud have been unfounded, the GOP initiated lawsuits to block or limit drop boxes if they are not monitored so some states and districts place the boxes in government buildings and other places, such as libraries, that are staffed. While this slightly limits the hours that voters can drop off their ballots, it uses existing resources to provide supervision and increases voter confidence that their ballots will be received, especially among ongoing issues with the postal service.

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19th Amendment: The six-week 'brawl' that won women the vote

Elaine Weiss

August 03, 2020 |

The Christian Science Monitor |

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Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Tennessee

Three generations of activists marched, protested, lobbied, and campaigned for more than seven decades to win the right to vote for American women. In 1920, national and local activists worked to convince Tennessee legislators to support the 19th amendment and become the 36th and final state needed to ratify it. Local suffragists were the most visible forces, lobbying their representatives to support the amendment, while national activists built alliances, identified legislators known to take bribes, and exerted political pressure at all levels of government, including among presidential candidates.

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While President Trump and national GOP sound alarm on voting by mail, red Utah embraces it

Lee Davidson

August 01, 2020 |

The Salt Lake Tribune |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Utah

Voting by mail in Utah has led to high turnout, even for Republicans who party officials feared would not vote, because it removes obstacles such as missing work, bad weather, and long wait times. It is also safer for public health. Republican turnout nearly doubled, as did the overall turnout, since transitioning to the system. Some criticize the delayed results caused by accepting ballots postmarked the day before election day, and 18 counties don't pay return postage, which can disenfranchise voters. Native American tribal nations don't have formal street addresses, which can also disenfranchise voters.

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In Staten Island, A Burgeoning Youth-Led Movement For Social Justice Is Afoot

Chad Small

August 01, 2020 |

Gothamist |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Staten Island, New York

The Young Leaders of Staten Island (YSLI) was created in Staten Island to fight for social justice after young residents of the borough felt the local response to George Floyd's murder was not enough. YSLI mobilized hundreds of protesters to march in Staten Island's largest public protest of 1,800 people. The group has demanded justice through police reform and beyond, hosting voter registration and census completion drives. Their efforts have resulted in 125 people registering for the census and 85 people to vote.

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