AMERICA GOES TO
THE POLLS 2014:
VOTER TURNOUT IN THE
2014 MIDTERM ELECTION
Presented by
WHO WE ARE
• Network of State and National Partners
• National Hub of 501c3 Voting Resources
• Founding Partner of National Voter Registration Day
TODAY’S PRESENTERS
Michael McDonald
Professor of Political
Science
University of Florida
George Pillsbury
Founder and Senior
Consultant
Nonprofit VOTE
Who
AGENDA

Voter Turnout Trends and Rankings

Factors that Affect Turnout

Voter Turnout among Youth and New
Citizens

Reforms to Boost Turnout
Agenda
VOTER TURNOUT
TRENDS AND
RANKINGS
MEASURING VOTER TURNOUT
• Total Ballots Cast
• Voting Eligible
Population
Trends &
Rankings
TURNOUT TREND IN NATIONAL ELECTIONS
Graphic Will Be
Modified
IMPACTING MIDTERM TURNOUT
TOP 10 STATES
POLL QUESTION
• Which jurisdiction had the most
growth in voter turnout compared to
2010?
– Louisiana
– District of Columbia
– Wisconsin
Poll!
FACTORS THAT
AFFECT TURNOUT

Election Day Registration

Political Competition

Vote by Mail
COMPETITION DRIVES TURNOUT
COMPETITION IN HOUSE RACES
COOKS POLITICAL REPORT – 2014 HOUSE
IMPACT OF ELECTION DAY REGISTRATION
GROWTH IN EDR STATES
VOTE BY MAIL
• Colorado – 3rd
• Oregon – 5th
• Washington – 18th (3rd in 2010)
VOTER TURNOUT
AMONG YOUTH AND
NEW CITIZENS
DROP OFF OF YOUNG VOTERS IN MIDTERMS
LATINO VOTE 2014
Graphic Coming
Combined Latino
Growth
ASIAN AMERICAN/PACIFIC ISLANDER VOTE 2014
REFORMS TO BOOST
TURNOUT
BEYOND ELECTION DAY REGISTRATION
•
•
•
•
Modernizing Voter Registration
Early Voting
Felon Disenfranchisement
Nonpartisan Redistricting
Reform
POLL QUESTION
• Which state just adopted automatic
voter registration?
– Vermont
– Wisconsin
– Oregon
Poll!
MODERNIZING VOTER REGISTRATION
• Paperless, Online Voter Registration
• Pre-registration of 16 and 17 year olds
• The Electronic Registration Information
Center (ERIC)
• Automatic and Portable Voter Registration
Reform
EARLY VOTING DONE WELL
• Voting early in-person and vote by mail
• Vote centers and ballot drop off locations
• The early voting period
• Same day registration (during early voting)
Reform
RESTORING VOTING RIGHTS
• What does the U.S. have in common with Armenia,
Belgium and Chile?
• More than 4 million Americans disenfranchised postrelease
• A history of discriminatory intent
• 50 states with 50 approaches
Sources: Brennan Center, Pro-Con.com, Sentencing Project
Reform
NONPARTISAN REDISTRICTING
• Sophisticated data analysis
allows partisan office
holders to design their
own districts in a way that
eliminates competitive
elections and represents
“democracy in reverse”
Reform
RESOURCES
• Factsheets, Guides, Toolkits and more
available at www.nonprofitvote.org
Resources
DOWNLOAD REPORT – MORE INFO
www.nonprofitvote.org
VISIT US ELECTION PROJECT
www.electproject.org
info@nonprofitvote.org
617.357.VOTE (8683)
www.nonprofitvote.org
Nonprofit VOTE
89 South Street
Suite 203
Boston, MA 02111
George Pillsbury
gpillsbury@nonprofitvote.org
Michael McDonald
dr.michael.p.mcdonald@gmail.com