&
Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law
Election Reform Gains
in 2015
Wendy Weiser
Director, Democracy Program
November 12, 2015
Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law
Who We Are – Nonprofit VOTE
Founded in 2005, Nonprofit VOTE partners with
America's nonprofits to help the people they
serve participate and vote.
We are a leading source of nonpartisan training,
materials and other resources for nonprofits
doing voter engagement work.
Find out more about our mission and partners on our site
www.nonprofitvote.org
Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law
Who We Are – Brennan Center for Justice
• Democracy and justice
• Think tank, advocacy group, public interest
law firm, communications hub
• Policy initiatives and reports
• Legislation, testimony, coalition work
• Legal representation and amicus briefs
• Media work
Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law
Today’s Speaker
Wendy Weiser
Director, Democracy Program
Brennan Center for Justice
NYU School of Law
Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law
States With New Voting Restrictions Since 2010 Election
*
*
*
* Lawsuits pending
Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law
Vote Restriction Legislation, 2013-15
Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law
Expansive Voting Legislation, 2013-15
• 48 states – bills
introduced
• 26 states – laws
enacted
Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law
Expansive Voting Legislation
• Modernize voter registration
• Automatic
• Electronic
• Online
• EDR and SDR
• Pre-registration
• Early voting
• Rights restoration
• Expand ID
Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law
Breakthrough: Automatic Registration
 Oregon
 California
 New Jersey
Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law
Photo: Thinkstock
How Automatic Registration Works
• Designated government agencies
• Paperless and seamless
• Opt-out
Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law
Impact of Automatic Registration
• Boost registration rates
• Reduce errors
• Allow groups and campaigns to focus on
issues and mobilization
Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law
Increased Registration from Electronic Registration
Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law
Automatic Registration Gaining Momentum
Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law
Automatic Registration Increasingly Popular
Letters in support of CA law:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
CA Democratic Congressional Delegation
Attorney General Kamala D. Harris
CA Association of Clerks and Election Officials
Alameda County Board of Supervisors
Asian Americans Advancing Justice
CA Democratic Party
CA Environmental Justice Alliance
CA Labor Federation
CALPIRG
CA School Employees Association
CA State Council of SEIU
CA Teachers Association
CA Teamsters Public Affairs Council
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Center on Race, Poverty, & the Environment
Communications Workers of America, AFL-CIO
District 9
League of Women Voters of C.A
L.A. County Board of Supervisors
Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson
Santa Monica Mayor Kevin McKeown
Natural Resources Defense Council
Representative Barbara Lee
Sierra Club
State Building and Construction Trades Council
The Pew Charitable Trusts’ Election Initiatives
Presidential candidate platforms:
• Hillary Clinton
• Bernie Sanders
Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law
• Martin O’Malley
Fully Modern Registration
• Automatic (and
electronic) registration
• Online registration
• Portable registration
• Same- and Election Day
registration or other
failsafe
Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law
Photo: Flickr
Electronic Registration
Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law
Online Registration
Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law
Online Registration, cont’d
• Popular and can be used to boost registration
• Smartphone compatible in 9 states
• Partnership with groups in CA
• Limited to DMV ID holders in all but 3 states
(DE, MN, MO)
Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law
Same- and Election Day Registration
Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law
Impact of Same-Day Registration
• Focus on mobilization
• Improve turnout by 5-7%
• Portability
• 1 in 9 Americans move each year
• 1 in 3 unregistered Americans dropped off
rolls because they moved
• Learn state requirements
Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law
Early Voting Changes
• Available in some form in 33 states
• Benefits for voters and officials
• Since 2012:
• Setbacks in WI, NC, and NE
• Progress in FL, MD, and MA
• Timing and process varies
Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law
Rights Restoration After Criminal Conviction
• 2015 Reform in VA, veto in MD
• Progress in 20 states in last 20 years, 6 states in last
5 years
• States to watch: MD and KY
• IA, KY, and FL have lifetime disenfranchisement
• Rules in all 50:
http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/default/files/publications/images/RTV%2
0Map%2010.19.15.pdf
Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law
Learn More
• www.brennancenter.org
• State-by-state voting guides
http://www.brennancenter.org/student-voting
http://www.866ourvote.org/pages/voter-education-materials
• Voter registration modernization
https://www.brennancenter.org/voter-registration-modernization
• State-by-state voter registration reform
https://www.brennancenter.org/analysis/voter-registration-modernizationstates
• Voting Laws Roundups
https://www.brennancenter.org/analysis/voting-laws-roundup-2015
Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law
Brennan Center for Justice
www.brennancenter.org
wendy.weiser@nyu.edu
Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law