Local high school students volunteer for national nonprofit to educate voters

Kathryn Goodwin

November 08, 2020 |

The Daily Tar Heel |

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Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States

MyVote organized over 300 student volunteers, mostly in high school, to research candidates and their policies so that voters could have a “one-stop-shop” platform to learn about policy platforms of candidates running in national and local elections. The group covered the policies of all candidates from North Carolina, Florida, and Pennsylvania and voters used the guides at the polls to educate themselves on the candidates and issues. Since many of the volunteers are not old enough to vote, carrying out the voter education research helped them get involved in ways that are useful to the democratic process.

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As last of Georgia ballots are counted, a look at how voter turnout hit record high

Carlisa N. Johnson

November 05, 2020 |

The GroundTruth Project |

Multi-Media |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Georgia

A massive, though unofficial, multi-issue coalition made up of voter advocacy, legal, and other social justice groups, increased participation in Georgia’s elections. The groups conducted voter outreach year-round and ran ads, social media campaigns, and sent direct mail to educate voters about their rights and promote civic engagement. They also focused on systemic changes, such as pressuring the state to replace old voting machines and challenging “exact match” signature laws. Their work decreased voter suppression and the disenfranchisement of communities traditionally overlooked in the political process.

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How to Combat Disinformation Targeting Black Communities

Amy Yee

November 03, 2020 |

Yes! Magazine |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States

Several groups are working to counter disinformation aimed at the Black community by spreading accurate information and elevating local voices as trusted messengers. Organizations have disseminated accurate information via social media, used hackathons and video game launches to get Black and other youth of color interested in voting, provided shareable content to progressive organizations, and created a guide to help people identify fake accounts and bots. Nonprofit First Draft also provides a two-week disinformation training course in English and Spanish with daily lessons sent by text.

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Could Ranked Choice Voting Work in D.C.?

Will Warren

November 02, 2020 |

Washington City Paper |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Washington, District of Columbia

In ranked choice voting voters rank all candidates in order of preference so that if no candidate wins a majority, a second round of counting eliminates candidates with the fewest votes and allots voters’ second choices towards the top vote getters. The process repeats until a candidate wins a majority. Since candidates benefit from being a voter’s second choice, they have an incentive to reach out to and appeal to a broader range of voters. Maine and Takoma Park, DC are models of its effective, and DC is considering a broader implementation. Some local Virginia districts will use ranked choice in 2021.

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'I'm not invisible': Kentucky millennials with felony records head to the polls for first time

Chloe Atkins

October 31, 2020 |

NBC News |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Kentucky

More than 170,000 people with felony records in Kentucky won the right to vote in the 2020 election under an order by the governor. Although not as concrete as legislation, the governor's order at least temporarily rescinds the state's permanent voting ban for most people with felony convictions. The order pertains to people with non-violent offenses. Unlike some states' re-enfranchisement policies, Kentucky's does not require payment of outstanding fines or restitution. The policy is seen as a particular benefit to people of color and millennials.

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How Cook County Jail Became the Country's First Jail-Based Polling Place

Kiran Misra

October 30, 2020 |

Belt Magazine |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Chicago, Illinois

As the first jail to serve as a polling place for the people incarcerated there, the Cook County Jail saw the highest number of votes cast in a primary election in decades during the spring primary. On two weekends of early voting for the fall general election, more than 2,000 people cast their ballots, nearly 40% of the jail's population. In jail, in-person voting has several advantages over mail-in voting, which in the past was the only option, as at all other jails. Because most people held there have not been found guilty, they are eligible to vote. Illinois also allows same-day registration.

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Forget civics class: Students want to make a difference in real life

Charlotte West

October 30, 2020 |

The Hechinger Report |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Oakland, California

The Oakland Youth Vote started as a youth-led ballot initiative to give 16- and 17-year-olds the right to vote for school board representatives. Student activism helped get the initiative on the November 2020 ballot and the Oakland City Council promised to fund and implement the measure if it is approved. The ballot measure passed with 67% of voters supporting it. Voting for school board representatives will allow students to have a say in the policies and decisions that shape their education and ensure that the diverse student body is appropriately represented.

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King County hospitals are making sure patients can vote

Hannah Weinberger

October 30, 2020 |

Crosscut |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Seattle, Washington

Hospitals in King County launched programs to help inpatients register to vote and cast their ballot. Some adopted VotER, a program that sets up voter registration kiosks and QR codes that can be scanned for voting information. If inpatients don't have someone who can bring them their ballots, hospital staff can print them online. Since the state has universal mail-in voting with ballot boxes that anyone can drop ballots in, hospital staff also helped deliver ballots. With health care policy often on the ballot, helping patients vote is another way healthcare professionals care for their patients.

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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 |

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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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Election Season Is Wildfire Season. These Voters Lost Everything.

Julia Thomas

October 29, 2020 |

The New Republic |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Oregon

Rule changes in counties impacted by wildfires have made it easier for displaced residents to vote in the 2020 presidential election by using their temporary residence, shelter, a P.O. box, or their county election office to receive a ballot. Social media campaigns inform residents about their voting options, in addition to wildfire responses, and thousands of people have changed the address where they want to receive their ballot. The number of registered voters also increased by tens of thousands in many counties.

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