building democracy

Building Democracy

The importance of non-partisan registration in 2012

Thursday, September 8, 2011

-Ari Berman, Rolling Stone Magazine


"I don't want everybody to vote," the influential

conservative activist Paul Weyrich told a gathering of

evangelical leaders in 1980. "As a matter of fact, our

leverage in the elections quite candidly goes up as the

voting populace goes down."



"I don't want everybody to vote," the influential

conservative activist Paul Weyrich told a gathering of

evangelical leaders in 1980. "As a matter of fact, our

leverage in the elections quite candidly goes up as the

voting populace goes down."

Its the struggle we’ve been in for 200 years



It begins with the right to vote


A right that many before us have dedicated their lives to securing


We make progress when we



stand



stand

and fight.


Its time to support the fight.


Because every citizen deserves the right to vote.

IVOTED


Today


Todaynot everyone


has the same

Todaynot everyone

VoiceThursday, September 8, 2011

At the great equalizer--the ballot box...


80%

60%

40%

20%

0%Rest of Population

African American

Unmarried Women

Youth American Indian

Asian/PacificIslander

Hispanic

Not everyone is equally representedVoter Registration Rates


What would it take to achieve

registration equality?


What would it take to achieve

registration equality?

7.4 million registrations


Its not enough to engage only those who are already registered. I

VOTED


Are the futureThose who are not yet registered


Will also shape the future


Registered

Didn’t voteIn 2008, for every 1 of these voters who were registered but didn’t vote...


RegisteredNOT

There were 4more who werenever registered


This struggle for registration equality has become more urgent than ever before

because...


Our country is changing


2018



By 2018, people of color and unmarried women will be a majority of the citizen voting age population

2018



This is the Emerging Majority


And they could dramatically shi! the landscape of American politics


But only if they are registered to vote.

IVOTED


We’ve come a long way


TO CLOSING THE REGISTRATION GAP



0

10

20

30

40

African Americans Latinos Asian Americans Youth Unmarried Women

Milli

ons

2004

Registrants



0

10

20

30

40

African Americans Latinos Asian Americans Youth Unmarried Women

Milli

ons

2008

Registrants


In 2012, we can significantly narrow the gap that remains:


80%

60%

40%

20%


African American

Unmarried Women



Hispanic

Voter Registration Rates


If the Emerging Majority were registered at the same rate as the rest of the population, the

electorate would grow by 7.4 million new voters.


And achieve the most representative democracy in our country’s history.


We know the journey won’t be easy


The Emerging Majority is already changing our future as a country


Change makes some people nervous


That’s why on the heels of our greatestregistration success in 2008...


...our country is facing the greatest assault on voting rights in 50 years.


This is where the Emerging Majority lives:


X

XX

XX X X

X

XX

X

X

XXX

XX X X

XXX XX

XX X

XXXXXX

XX

XX

They’ve introduced laws requiring photo ID, costing American tax payers money to exercise their basic rights.


X

XX

XX X X

X

XX

X

X

XXX

XX X X

XXX XX

XX X

XXXXXX

XX

XX

X

X

X

XX

X

X

X

X

They’ve passed laws making it harder to conduct voter registration drives


X

XX

XX X X

X

XX

X

X

XXX

XX X X

XXX XX

XX X

XXXXXX

XX

XX

X

X

X

XX

X

X

X

X

Anti Same-day Registration Laws

XX

X

XX


X

XX

XX X X

X

XX

X

X

XXX

XX X X

XXX XX

XX X

XXXXXX

XX

XX

X

X

X

XXX

X

X

X

XX

X

XX

And they have discredited organizations dedicated to bringing new voters into our democracy.

XX

X X

X XXX

XXX X

XXXX

X

XX

XXX

XX X X

XX

XX

X

X

XXXX XX X

XXX X

XXX XX


We have a choice to make


Retreat in the face of challenge


Deepenour

Resolve

Re-commit

Re-invest

or...

Collaborate


Deepenour

Resolve

Re-commit

Re-invest

or...

..and work smarter than ever before.

Collaborate


We’re digging in and getting ready...


Our plans for 2012


We believe we can make progress toward representational democracy in at least 22 states

in 2012


But it won’t happen naturally, without resources, focus and organizing


Our goal is to register 5.6 million voters in 22 states and it will cost $60 Million


We’re designing our voter registration programs to take head on the challenges we

know exist.


The Emerging Majority is younger than the rest of the electorate

CHALLENGE



CHALLENGE

16%



CHALLENGE

16%

84%



CHALLENGE

16%

84%

Age 18-29Age 30+

Rest of Electorate



28%

72%

Age 18-29Age 30+

CHALLENGE

16%

84%

Age 18-29Age 30+

Emerging MajorityRest of Electorate


We are meeting them where they are.

SOLUTION



SOLUTION

Online



SOLUTION

Online

+



SOLUTION

Online

+

Mail



SOLUTION

Online

+

Mail

BirthdayPrograms



SOLUTION

Online

+

Mail

BirthdayPrograms

Movers



SOLUTION

Online

+ +

Mail

BirthdayPrograms

Movers



SOLUTION

Online

+ +

Mail Field

BirthdayPrograms

Movers



SOLUTION

Online

+ +

Mail Field

BirthdayPrograms

Movers

Peer-to-Peer



SOLUTION

Online

+ +

Mail Field

BirthdayPrograms

Movers

Peer-to-Peer

TrustedMessenger



SOLUTION

Online

+ +

Mail Field

BirthdayPrograms

Movers

Peer-to-Peer

TrustedMessenger

Events



SOLUTION

Online

+ +

Mail Field

BirthdayPrograms

Movers

Peer-to-Peer

TrustedMessenger

Events

Congregation



SOLUTION

Online

+ +

Mail Field

BirthdayPrograms

Movers

Peer-to-Peer

TrustedMessenger

Events

Door-to-DoorCongregation



SOLUTION

Online

+ +

Mail Field

BirthdayPrograms

Movers

Peer-to-Peer

TrustedMessenger

Events

HSDoor-to-DoorCongregation


The Emerging Majority has borne the brunt of the economic crisis

CHALLENGE



CHALLENGE

Foreclosure



CHALLENGE

Foreclosure Foreclosure



CHALLENGE

Foreclosure Foreclosure Foreclosure



CHALLENGE

Foreclosure Foreclosure Foreclosure Foreclosure



CHALLENGE

Foreclosure Foreclosure Foreclosure Foreclosure Foreclosure


Unemployment and record foreclosures hits the Emerging Majority hardest of all.

CHALLENGE

Foreclosure Foreclosure Foreclosure Foreclosure Foreclosure


CHALLENGE

Foreclosure

Rest of Population

Foreclosure

White, NonHispanic

Foreclosure

EmergingMajority

Foreclosure

UnmarriedWomen

Foreclosure

People ofColor

% population that has moved in past 4 years

33%35%

46% 46% 47%


So in 2012, our targeted work will include re-registering those who have recently moved.

SOLUTION

Movers


Emerging Majority voters are not always easy to find

CHALLENGE


So in 2012 we are working to integrate mail, online and field programs more than ever

before.

SOLUTION



before.

SOLUTION

Online



before.

SOLUTION

Online

+



before.

SOLUTION

Online

+

Mail



before.

SOLUTION

Online

+ +

Mail



before.

SOLUTION

Online

+ +

Mail Field


We need to learn more about best practices for voter registration in the current climate

CHALLENGE


We are developing a research agenda for 2012

SOLUTION


We are also working together and learning from each other


EmergencyResponse

VolunteerRecruitment

&Leadership

VoterRegistration

Law & Practices

ConsistentData

ManagementThursday, September 8, 2011

EmergencyResponse


&Leadership

VoterRegistration

Law & Practices

We’ll start cross-training in:

ConsistentData

ManagementThursday, September 8, 2011

EmergencyResponse


&Leadership

VoterRegistration

Law & Practices

ConsistentData

Management

And we are developing :


EmergencyResponse


&Leadership

VoterRegistration

Law & Practices

ConsistentData

Management


Shared Budgeting


EmergencyResponse


&Leadership

VoterRegistration

Law & Practices

ConsistentData

Management


Shared Budgeting

Outcomes Systems


To do this, we need to work together.


WHY INVEST NOW?


to steward our

Voter RegistrationIs an effective way

ResourcesThursday, September 8, 2011

It is the most predictable and cost-effective method for voter turnout


GOTV and voter education are important techniques but registration generates more votes


This year, we can test to demonstrate impact.

Expenditure per Voter

Probability of Impact

Turnout $80* Most of the time

Registration $12 Most of the time


Voter registration leverages the heat of elections. It is more effective in Presidential years when people

are engaged and there is increased media attention.


Once registered, about 70% of new voters will turn out to vote in their first Presidential cycle.


And once they vote, they are 49% more likely to keep voting


THE BENEFITS


When we succeed, we will achieve registration equality for the first time in

American history


80%

60%

40%

20%


African American

Unmarried Women



Hispanic

Voter Registration Equality


Tipping the balance of power


the Emerging Majority can

hold the balance of

power in many close

elections.

As we approach registration equality


Presidential Senate House

Elections where independent voter registration exceeded margin of victory in 2008

FL

OH

NC

MO

IN

OH (1,15)

FL

(8,25)

MNAL (2)

CA

(4)

CT (4)

LA (3,4,5)

MD

(1)

NV

(3)


over another

This does not favorany party

or candidate


But it means in close elections, if the Emerging Majority are registered, they can make the

difference.


Their voices


Their voicesare more likely


to be heard

Their voicesare more likely


And if they


And if theyare


heard

And if theyare


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It can make a difference in policy priorities


Strengthening our Democracy


Democracy is not only built on Election DayThursday, September 8, 2011

...but also through the hard work it takes to engage voters a!erwards


Voter registration is an essential entry point to democracy


...and if done correctly, it can strengthen civic participation by turning voters into changemakers

Newly RegisteredVoter

Volunteer Activist Changemaker


GETTING TO WORK


We’ve already begun the hard work we know it will take to move our country forward


In 2012 over 60 organizations will be working together to register voters

across AMERICA


We saw what was possible with commitment and investment...


0

3,750

7,500

11,250

15,000

2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012


0

3,750

7,500

11,250

15,000

2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012

Registration Inequality

Gap


0

3,750

7,500

11,250

15,000

2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012

Registration Inequality

Gap

Registrationssubmitted byindependent

groups


0

3,750

7,500

11,250

15,000

2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012

When independent groups are well funded


0

3,750

7,500

11,250

15,000

2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012

The inequality gap decreases


We can’t take it for granted that voter registration will happen on its own


We’ve seen what happens when we don’t have the resources necessary

0

3,750

7,500

11,250

15,000

2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012


Voter registration will not happen if we don’t

act together

Will you join us?Thursday, September 8, 2011

Will you join us?

Together, we can rebuild our democracy and start

to rebuild America.


Together, we can rebuild our democracy and start

to rebuild America.


building democracy

News & Politics

ari berman

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