Choose your area of electoral impact.
A historic election will take place in November, but COVID-19 will directly affect what voting looks like. Democracy works best when we all participate.
The 6 leading causes for low election turnout among eligible voters:
+ Inaccessible Polls
In urban, low-income and minority communities, the number of polling places are shrinking and long wait times are growing compared to affluent white neighborhoods. COVID-19 adds another question mark of whether (and where) polling stations might be open for in-person voting.
+ Barriers for Students
In 2014, 35% of students who were registered to vote said they never showed up because of conflicts with class. Voter ID laws and/or traveling home to vote can get tricky. And, with COVID-19, students don't know whether they'll still be at home or on campus in September, leaving them unsure where to request ballots be mailed.
+ Confusing Voting Laws
Voter ID requirements, registration laws and deadlines vary by state. Information online is often conflicting or inaccurate, leaving voters the task of decoding a complex tangle of rules and regulations. This confusion will only rise as states make different allowances for mail-in voting under COVID-19.
+ Apathy + Fatigue (or Fear)
For some Americans, you mention politics and their eyes glaze over. Others have every intention of voting, but when it comes to long lines and rainy weather they . . . just . . . can’t. COVID-19 will make people more fearful of showing up to vote in person. How can we give every voter the confidence to participate in democracy this year?
+ Conflicts with Work
33% of eligible voters who didn't show up on Election Day reported conflicts with work were part of the problem. For hourly workers, taking time off to vote literally means losing money. More companies are giving paid time off to vote and turning Election Day into a volunteer holiday. Whether your employees are essential in-person workers or adjusting to new telework routines, we'll help you empower your employees to participate in democracy during COVID-19.
+ Lack of Childcare
For working parents, scheduling time to vote around work, school pick-up/drop-off, and infant nap times is already tough. Add in paying for a babysitter or dragging your children to the polls, and it starts to feel like it’s not worth the hassle.