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How a new way to vote is gaining traction in states — and could transform US politics

Zachary Roth

December 28, 2023 |

Stateline |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Alaska

Some states are combining ranked choice voting, which asks voters to rank candidates by order of preference, with Final Five primaries where multiple candidates advance to the general election, rather than one candidate from each major party. After implementing both reforms, Alaska saw more women run for office than in the five previous elections, and an analysis of the system found it improved representation by giving voters more choice and encouraging candidates to appeal to a wider demographic.

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Little by little, perpetual vote-by-mail list reshapes New Jersey's off-year elections

Nikita Biryukov

November 30, 2023 |

New Jersey Monitor |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, New Jersey

Thanks to a 2019 law, New Jersey voters who request a mail-in ballot one time continue to receive them in perpetuity for future elections without needing to submit another request. The state has seen mail-in voting rates increase in off-year elections since the perpetual vote-by-mail list was created, with 22 percent of votes cast in 2021 attributed to mail-in ballots compared to 16.7 percent in 2019.

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An effort to increase teen engagement in Gonzales is succeeding, and spreading to neighboring cities

Celia Jiménez

November 16, 2023 |

Monterey County Weekly |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Gonzales, California

The Gonzales Youth Council, which allows young people to advise local government on issues that affect them, has inspired other youth councils to sprout up in neighboring communities. Youth commissioners participate in a paid summer fellowship to learn about city and school district processes, and the council has made several recommendations that have gone on to become ordinances, including fines for adults who facilitate underage drinking.

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Oakland County, Westland clerks tout success of early voting pilot program

Stephen Henderson

November 08, 2023 |

WDET |

Podcast |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Michigan

After Michiganders approved a constitutional amendment allowing residents to vote early in federal and statewide elections, municipal clerks reported that the state’s first test of early voting in November 2023 was a success with nearly 4,600 people casting ballots.

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Low turnout but smooth sailing for Michigan's first foray into early voting

Oralandar Brand-Williams

November 07, 2023 |

Votebeat |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Michigan

Residents who participated in Michigan’s first year of early in-person voting say they appreciated the shorter lines, the convenience to vote on their own schedules, and the ability to feed their ballots into polling place tabulators themselves. Nearly 4,600 voters cast their ballots early in-person across the state.

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Feedback Machines Challenge Ugandan Public Officials to 'Do Better'

Hellen Kabahukya

October 31, 2023 |

Solutions Now Africa |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Uganda

Feedback machines installed at government offices such as hospitals and police stations allow Ugandan citizens to offer anonymous thoughts on the quality of the services provided, creating data that is analyzed to highlight areas for improvement. More than 50 machines have been deployed throughout the country with nearly 260,000 people sharing feedback each month in Kampala alone.

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Counties use high school students as poll workers to shore up staff

Whitney Downard

October 31, 2023 |

Indiana Capital Chronicle |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Indiana

Indiana’s Hoosier Hall Pass program allows 16- and 17-year-olds to miss a day of school to pitch in as poll workers, helping to fill staffing shortages while also giving youth an up-close-and-personal look at the election process. In 2020, about 4.3 percent of poll workers in the state were under the age of 18.

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How a California Child Care Workers' Union Fought for Living Wages — and Won

Daisy Nguyen

October 13, 2023 |

KQED |

Radio |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, California

By organizing on nights and weekends through their union, Child Care Providers United, home-based child care providers in California were able to secure a landmark contract creating the country’s first retirement fund for unionized child care workers.

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Portland Youth Exercise Power through Participatory Budgeting

Rebecca Jacobson

October 12, 2023 |

Reed Magazine |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Portland, Oregon

Through Youth Voice Youth Vote, nearly 800 young people in Portland took part in a participatory budgeting process to decide how to spend $500,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding. The winning projects, including a paid internship program, expanded access to menstrual products, and a job resource fair, are now in the process of being implemented.

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Refugee Organizing Helps Spur Noncitizen Voting in Vermont Cities

Piper French

September 28, 2023 |

Bolts |

Text |

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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