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Voting Rights, Political Participation, and Advocacy

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What Does A Ballot Look Like? Election Day In Each State Will Vary

As Election Day draws nearer, voters are either already in the process of going to polls via early voting, or preparing to do so on Nov. 8. For those of you who have not already voted, you may be wondering what your ballot is going to look like on Election Day. As expected, ballots differ widely among states, but they all have some key similarities.

All 2016 election ballots will obviously contain a section to vote for President of the United States, or rather the electors who are pledged to ei
Bustle •

The Newest Way To Provide Feminist Resistance

As part of its "10 Actions in 100 Days" activism campaign, the Women's March on Washington recently announced its "Hear Our Vote" initiative, which encourages women and men to register to vote, particularly in upcoming local elections. Along with announcing the initiative, the organization released a helpful guide to how you can make your vote heard and continue the Women's March mission.

The inspiration behind the "Hear Our Vote" initiative consisted of recognizing the importance of voting at
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What Does Gerrymandering Mean? The Supreme Court’s Decision Could Seriously Affect The 2018 Elections

On Monday, a ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court halted Republican efforts to delay the enforcement of a Pennsylvania state court decision that the state's congressional map be redrawn. The state court had ruled in favor of redrawing after finding that partisan gerrymandering favoring the GOP played a large role in how electoral districts were created. Now that the Supreme Court has made its decision, it's important to take a closer look at what exactly gerrymandering is and how the Supreme Court
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The Voting Age In Oregon Could Drop To 16 So Younger Teens Have "A Chance To Participate"

The state of Oregon is considering legislation that would allow more teenagers to make their voices heard in the political arena. Indeed, the voting age in Oregon could drop to 16 if legislators approve a recently-proposed amendment to the state's constitution. Those who support the bill say that younger teens are well-qualified to have a say in their state's politics, CNN noted.

The bill proposing the change, known as Senate Joint Resolution 22, was introduced in the state's legislature on Mon
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Ruth Bader Ginsburg & Elena Kagan's Dissent On Voter ID Laws Is A Must-Read As Midterms Approach

On Tuesday, the United States Supreme Court upheld a ruling that found that North Dakotans must show proof of a residential address and present specific forms of identification when voting in elections. Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Elena Kagan's dissent in this case illustrates what they believe are the potential problems with enforcing the state's voter ID laws — namely, that the laws stand to disenfranchise voters.

According to Mother Jones, North Dakota's current voter ID laws, which wer
Bustle •

Russian Facebook Ads Could Have Swayed Michigan & Wisconsin Voters In The 2016 Election

On Tuesday, CNN reported that Russian Facebook ads targeted political battleground states during the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign, particularly Michigan and Wisconsin. While it has been known for some time that Russian-linked political ads purchased during the campaign likely sought to influence the outcome of the presidential election, the geographical targeting of these ads has not been shared until now.

Facebook acknowledged on Monday that approximately 10 million Americans were exposed t
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How Many States Use The Top Two Primary System? California Doesn't Stand Alone Here

On Tuesday, June 5, California's residents will head to the ballet box to cast their votes in the state's highly anticipated primary elections. Tuesday's primaries could have significant political consequences, as they could very much help or hurt Democrats' chances of regaining a majority in the House of Representatives in November. However, California's primaries are also receiving a lot of attention because of the unique system used to elect candidates. Indeed, you may be wondering how many s
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Who Is Tom Brunell? Trump’s Census Pick Could Take Away Voting Power From Minorities In 2020

President Trump has chosen University of Texas Political Science professor Tom Brunell to effectively run the U.S. Census Bureau. If appointed, Brunell would take over leadership of the agency and, depending on the approach he chooses to take to the 2020 census, could negatively impact minority voters in future elections. Much concern about Brunell's potential appointment stems from the fact that he's indicated he believes minorities are over-counted in the census, and because he's advocated aga
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How To Find National Voter Registration Day Events Near You, Because Midterms Are Coming Up

For those who still need to register to vote ahead of November's midterm elections, Tuesday is an opportune time, as it's National Voter Registration Day. If you're wondering how to find National Voter Registration Day events near you, you can rest assured it's quite easy to locate local registration drives and other events.

As the event's website describes, National Voter Registration Day, which was established in 2012, occurs on the fourth Thursday of every September. The website indicates th
Bustle •

Who Counts Electoral College Votes? Both The Senate And Congress Play A Significant Role

The upcoming Electoral College vote is receiving a significant amount of attention due to speculation as to whether the College will try to block controversial president-elect Donald Trump. Though the move would be highly unprecedented, it's raising a lot of questions. Considering the impending arrival of the vote on Dec. 19, it's crucial to take a closer look at the voting process, particularly at who counts the Electoral College votes.

Counting of Electoral College votes actually occurs at tw
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Georgia's "Use It Or Lose It" Voter Registration Rule Could Seriously Impact The 2018 Midterms

As the midterm elections approach, some surprising state voting rules are receiving a lot of scrutiny. For example, last year, Georgia's "use it or lose it" voter registration rule resulted in the removal of over 100,000 people from the voter registration rolls, according to an American Public Media (APM) investigation. For the most part, these people were removed from the state's registry simply because they didn't vote or make contact with election officials in a seven-year period of time. The
Bustle •

Non-Citizens' Right To Vote In Some Elections Might Not Be Exercised For A Worrisome Reason

Midterm elections are rapidly approaching and a host of unique electoral challenges are arriving along with them. For example, several cities around the United States grant non-citizens the right to vote in some local elections. Non-citizens typically include both undocumented and documented immigrants who reside in the country, but don't have citizenship status. However, while some non-citizens are legally able to head to the ballot box on Election Day, it seems like few are choosing to do so,
Bustle •

When Early Voting Starts In Each State For The 2018 Midterms Hinges On A Few Factors

The midterm elections are rapidly approaching and, as a result, early voting is already underway in many parts of the country. When early voting starts in each state varies significantly and depends largely on state and, in some cases, local, laws. If you want to know whether early voting is a possibility in your state, the lists below give you a rundown of early voting options nationwide.

As the National Conference of State Legislatures described, typically, early voting means that a state all
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What Happens If You Forgot To Register To Vote All Depends On Where You Live

On Tuesday, voters around the United States will head to the ballot box to cast their votes in the 2018 midterm elections. If you're planning to vote, you might still have some lingering questions about voting policies. For example, you may want to know what happens if you forgot to register to vote. If you haven't registered already, you may still be able to cast your ballot — it just depends on where you live.

Many states require residents to register before a certain deadline in order to be
Bustle •

Voter Fraud Statistics Suggest Trump's Statements About It Paint A Skewed Picture

As the midterm elections approach, Donald Trump has sent a clear message that his administration will not tolerate voter fraud. Notably, though, the president has focused a good deal of attention on something that doesn't really seem to be a problem in the United States. In fact, voter fraud statistics suggest Trump's statements about it create a skewed perception of how much the issue actually affects American elections.

Over the past two years, Trump has repeatedly expressed concern about vot
Bustle •

Early Voting Turnout In Georgia Soared Above The Record Previously Set In 2014 — By A Lot

Across the United States, many voters have already cast their ballots for the 2018 midterms during their state's early voting period. In one state, Georgia, early voting turnout has far surpassed its previously record-breaking 2014 early voting rate. This strong early voting turnout brings further attention to the state, which is already being closely watched because of its potentially history-making gubernatorial race.

On Monday, Georgia's Secretary of State, Brian Kemp (who is also the state'
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This New York Hospital's Voting Program Makes Sure Women In Labor Get To Cast Their Ballots

Nov. 6 marks Election Day in the United States and, as a result, many voters will be headed to the polls on Tuesday. However, for some Americans, including women who are giving birth, it's not always possible to get to a polling place and vote. Notably, though, this New York hospital's voting program was designed to make sure that women can still cast their ballots, even while in labor.

As the New York Times reported, Lenox Hill Hospital on the Upper East Side of New York City launched a pilot
Bustle •

Stacey Abrams' Election Night Speech Was An Impassioned Defense Of Voting Rights

Early Wednesday morning, the Democratic candidate for governor in Georgia gave a rousing speech to her supporters. Stacey Abrams' election night speech expressed gratitude to Georgians for their civic participation and emphasized the importance of making your voice heard at the ballot box. Right now, as the Associated Press, CBS, and Fox News, reported, Abrams is trailing Brian Kemp in her gubernatorial bid, but the race is too close to call.

In her speech, Abrams drew on Georgia's long history
Bustle •

How To Get Involved In The 2020 Election As Campaigns Are Ramping Up

While the 2020 election is still over a year and a half away, campaign season is already in full swing. In fact, a host of candidates have declared their intention to run for president and various other offices. If you're looking for ways to get involved in the 2020 election as momentum builds toward the next big American voting day, this list offers a variety of ways for you to contribute your time.

So far, lots of Democrats have announced that they intend to run for president in 2020. Accordi

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