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“An Egalitarian Pressure”: Australia Has Been Requiring People to Vote for 100 Years

Daniel Nichanian

May 02, 2025 |

Bolts |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Australia

Since 1924, Australia has had compulsory voting, which requires citizens to cast a ballot or face a small fine. The policy has created a strong culture around voting, and voter turnout has remained high since the law went into effect.

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Jail Voting Soars in Colorado After State Mandates Polling Places in County Lockups

Alex Burness

March 04, 2025 |

Bolts |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Colorado

After Colorado passed a state law requiring all jails to create in-person polling places for incarcerated voters, the number of ballots cast from county jails rose from 231 in 2022 to more than 2,300 in 2024.

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This Pennsylvania County Wiped Out Millions in Jail Debt

Alex Burness

January 15, 2025 |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

In 2022, the Dauphin County Commissioners voted to eliminate “pay-to-stay” fees that meant people incarcerated in the county jail were often saddled with debt upon their release, regardless of the outcome of their trial. In September 2024, the commissioners also voted to forgive past debt accrued under the pay-to-stay policy, providing $66 million in relief for formerly incarcerated individuals, giving them a better chance at getting back on their feet post incarceration.

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Pop-Up Voting Centers Bring the Polls Directly to Unhoused Angelenos

Erin Rode

December 05, 2024 |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles County’s Flex Vote Center Program establishes polling locations at shelters, transitional housing sites, and service centers for people who are unhoused or face other barriers to voting. In 2020, nearly 2,800 people cast their ballots through the Flex program.

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The Michigan Jail that Candidates Keep Visiting

Alex Burness

November 26, 2024 |

Bolts |

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Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Flint, Michigan

Michigan’s Genessee County jail employs two formerly incarcerated organizers who help people detained there register to vote, cast their ballots, and access resources about pivotal election measures. They also coordinate forums with political candidates for offices ranging from the Michigan Supreme Court to the Flint City Council.

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Illinois Ended Cash Bail. Now Reformers Want More Support for People on Pretrial Release.

Pascal Sabino

May 01, 2024 |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Chicago, Illinois

The Community Release With Support program provides wraparound services to people on pretrial release by connecting them with housing support, employment services, and education programs, as well as helping participants make their court dates. These services have become even more vital since Illinois passed the Pretrial Fairness Act to eliminate cash bail requirements. Roughly 3,000 people have participated in the support program, which has connected 1,000 people with employment services, more than 740 with education programs, and more than 250 with housing support.

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Kentucky Activists Step In to Deliver on the Promise of Voting Rights Restoration

Alex Burness

October 12, 2023 |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Kentucky

After Kentucky reinstated voting rights for people convicted of nonviolent crimes who have finished their sentence, a coalition of activists and nonprofit organizations started using public records, social media, door-to-door canvassing, and other outreach methods to inform formerly incarcerated people of their rights. The effort has helped register more than 89,000 people since 2019, though advocates say the state itself could be doing much more to reach newly-enfranchised voters.

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Refugee Organizing Helps Spur Noncitizen Voting in Vermont Cities

Piper French

September 28, 2023 |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Vermont

Since 2018, three Vermont cities have passed measures allowing noncitizen voters to participate in municipal elections. This gives them the opportunity to weigh in on matters that affect all local residents regardless of their immigration status, from school budgets to road projects.

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‘We Have a Right to Put It on the Ballot': How Organizers Are Defending Direct Democracy

Daniel Nichanian

August 16, 2023 |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Ohio

Organizations in politically divided states like Arkansas, Idaho and Ohio are hard at work to protect direct democracy through community organizing and education. These groups have rallied to pass measures like minimum wage increases, medical marijuana and have even organized voters to fail ballot measures like Ohio’s recent Issue 1.

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Oregon Wants to Register Medicaid Recipients to Vote. Will Biden Officials Allow It?

Alex Burness

July 11, 2023 |

Bolts |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Oregon

Oregon was the first state to implement automatic voter registration, which allows government agencies such as the DMV to share residents’ information with election officials. Roughly 94 percent of eligible residents are now registered to vote, and the state hopes to expand its approach to Medicaid recipients, but federal regulations may complicate that process.

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