December 2022
ENGAGE!
CID Newsletter
It was an impactful year for the Center for Inclusive Democracy!

This past 12 months was a busy time for the Center for Inclusive Democracy, as we continued to advance our mission to inform policy and on-the-ground efforts for a more engaged and representative democracy in the U.S.

Whether through new CID research, updated voting location and outreach tools, informative webinars and presentations, or extensive interaction with local, state and national media, CID further increased its impact as a relevant, non-partisan and trusted voice for critical and data-driven democracy and election analysis.

The following sections include a look back at some of CID's key accomplishments this past year. In the coming months, stay tuned for announcements on CID's exciting new projects and partnerships.

As we close out 2022, we wish all of you a happy and fulfilling new year!

In partnership,

Mindy Romero
CID Founder and Director
New Research
CID issued a number of new research reports in 2022 that helped drive the conversation around voter representation, equity, accessibility and reform.

Reports included:

CID issued six independently researched reports on the California Voter’s Choice Act for the 2020 election cycle, commissioned by the California Secretary of State’s office.
  • CID SOS VCA Voter Registration and Turnout Report (General and Primary)
  • CID SOS VCA Voter Outreach and Education Report (General and Primary)
  • CID SOS VCA General Election Disability Access Report (General and Primary)

CID also released a number of other research reports on the 2020 primary and general elections. Stay tuned for new CID research on the 2022 election cycle and other topics!
Expanding Voting Tools to More States
CID continued to build on its collection of publicly available interactive data tools to support more targeted election and voting outreach practices.
  • Voting Location and Outreach Tool
  • Designed to help election officials and communities identify accessible and equitably distributed U.S. voting locations to boost voter access and participation, this tool was expanded in 2021/22 from 10 to 14 states, which now covers 51% of the U.S. population and is available in: AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, HI, MI, NV, NC, OH, PA, TX, VA and WI.
  • In 2022, CID also updated the tool’s name to include “outreach,” as a growing number of groups use the tool for targeted non-partisan voting outreach efforts in their communities.
  • Voter Turnout Tool
  • Available in Los Angeles County and in Georgia, this innovative interactive mapping resource helped voting advocacy groups, election officials, and the general public track early ballots cast in real-time during the 2022 midterm elections, whether voting was done in-person or by mail.
  • By using the tool to determine areas of high or low participation leading up to the election, communities were able to better plan targeted non-partisan outreach, down to the neighborhood or precinct level.
Webinars and Presentations
Participating in and helping to drive to discussions around voting and elections is an important tenet of CID’s activities. CID contributed to a number of conferences and events this past year, as well as led several organized events on timely election topics.

This year’s highlights of CID-organized events include:
  • Voter Access and the 2022 Midterm Elections
  • Moderated by CID’s Mindy Romero, this CID and USC Price School-hosted event featured Judd Choate, director of elections of Colorado, Jesse Harris Sr., deputy elections director of Georgia and Adam Ambrogi, senior director for voting and elections for the League of Women Voters, discussing voter turnout and accessibility.
  • The Black Voting Experience in California
  • Also held in conjunction with CBPN, CID provided an overview of key findings in this webinar from its Black Voting Experience report, discussing its implications with Black community leaders and election experts for the 2022 midterm elections and beyond.
CID’s Mindy Romero also spoke on elections and voting at numerous conferences and events throughout the year.

Highlights include:
  • 6th Annual CCCA City Manager’s Summit (California Contract Cities Association)
  • State of California Roundtable (CBS News Radio)
  • Building Trust in Elections (U.S. Election Assistance Commission)
  • The Future of California Elections: Democracy for All: What's Next for Building Equity in California's Elections? (The Future of California Elections)
  • Journey to Juneteenth: An Elevated Conversation (AARP California)
  • National Election Mail Forum (National Postal Forum)
  • Equity in Voter Turnout after Pandemic Election Changes (Public Policy Institute of California)
  • CID Voting Location and Outreach Tool Presentation (Ohio Association of Election Officials)
  • CID Voting Location & Outreach Tool Presentation (Ohio League of Women Voters)
  • 2022 Speaker Series: Why Don't More Arkansans Vote? (Indivisible, Little Rock & Central Arkansas)
  • Town Hall: Jan. 6 One Year Later (CBS 2 & KCAL 9)
CID in the Media
For more than a decade, CID’s Mindy Romero has been a frequent commentator on a range of election and voting-related topics, including electoral reforms, voting disparities, the Youth vote, the Latino vote and other forms of civic engagement.

This past year was no exception, with CID’s inclusion in more than 520 news stories in media outlets across the world. From the BBC to the Associated Press, the Daily Mail to USA Today and the LA Times, Romero was widely covered with her insights on the 2022 midterm elections, high-profile candidate races and breaking political developments.
Visit the CID media page for 2022 media highlights.
CID Partnerships: The Key to Success
CID would not be successful without the partnership and support of so many organizations and individuals. With their collaboration, input, feedback and on-the-ground support, CID has been able to continue forging new and creative pathways for applied research that is making a difference in the democracy space.

In addition to the incredible contributions from election officials and community advocates across the country, a special thanks this past year to:
  • AAPI Civic Engagement Fund
  • Asian Americans Advancing Justice
  • California Black Freedom Fund
  • California Black Power Network
  • California Common Cause
  • California Community Foundation
  • California Voter Foundation
  • Colorado Secretary of State's Office
  • Democracy Fund
  • Disability Rights California
  • Elections and Voting Information Center at Reed College
  • Future of California Elections
  • Georgia Secretary of State's Office
  • Haas Jr. Fund
  • Latino Community Foundation
  • League of Women Voters
  • Los Angeles County Elections Office
  • MIT Election Data and Science Lab
  • NALEO Educational Fund
  • Public Policy Institute of California
  • Texas Secretary of State's Office
  • USC Sol Price School of Public Policy
  • Yankelovich Center at UCSD
Center for Inclusive Democracy
The Center for Inclusive Democracy (CID) is part of the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy. CID conducts a range of national and multi-state research initiatives exploring voting behavior, civic engagement, electoral and economic research, the intersection of social justice and democracy, and more. Its research informs and empowers a wide range of policy and organizing efforts aimed at eliminating disparities in social and economic well-being.
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