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How Women Are Faring in the World's Largest Refugee Camp

Jennifer Chowdhury

September 17, 2019 |

Zora |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Bangladesh, Ukhia, Cox's Bazar

In the Kutupalong Refugee Camp in Bangladesh, Rohingya women are overcoming the societal restraints that bound them at home in Myanmar and becoming leaders and change-makers in their community. Despite resistance from the men, hundreds of women in the camp banded together to form a group called Shanti Mohila. This allowed them to push for more peace and justice and issues like domestic violence, and they even received support from Legal Action Worldwide to prosecute crimes against the Rohingya people.

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Young voting advocates take up the fight against suppression

Milan Polk

August 29, 2019 |

The GroundTruth Project |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Greenville, South Carolina

Young advocates for voting rights are fighting back against laws that make it difficult for young people and other marginalized groups to register to vote. Through public campaigns, lawsuits, and voter registration drives, these youth advocates are taking action as their peers come of age to vote.

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San Francisco voters rank their candidates. It's made politics a little less nasty.

Lee Drutman

July 24, 2019 |

Vox |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, San Francisco, California

In 2002, San Francisco became the first U.S. city to adopt ranked choice voting, which allows voters to rank their candidates by 1st choice, 2nd choice, and so on, in what effectively becomes an instant run-off. This heads off voter fatigue in successive rounds of voting. But also, ranked choice voting encouraged more campaigning, voter engagement, and coalition-building.

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Rohingya Women Aren't Just Refugees—They're Leaders

Jennifer Chowdhury

July 09, 2019 |

Marie Claire |

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Under 800 Words

Response Location: Bangladesh, Teknaf, Cox's Bazar

The Shalbagan refugee camp in Bangladesh is one of 30 similar camps to elect leaders, except in this one women made up half of the elected officials. Over 40,000 Rohingya refugees live in the camp, and they come from Myanmar where women rarely held jobs or participated in the community. The new female leaders are getting a lot done here, dealing with anything from making sure that aid is properly distributed amongst them to domestic disputes to monsoon preparation.

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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 |

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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 |

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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 |

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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 |

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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 |

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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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