April 2021
ENGAGE! CID Newsletter
Dear Colleagues, Partners and Friends,

In this issue of "Engage!" you will find two new CID reports about voter participation in the California 2020 general election. You will also find up-to-date news and resources for addressing intolerance and increasing equity in voter education and redistricting.

Stay healthy and stay engaged.

In partnership,
Mindy Romero. Ph.D.
Center of Inclusive Democracy, Director
Connect with us
CID Recent News
CID Releases Two New Reports on Voter Participation
CID fact sheet provides highlights of the voter participation of Latinos and Asian Americans in California’s 2020 general election.
CID fact sheet provides highlights of the voter participation of Youth in California’s 2020 general election.

Democracy News
How To Start Conversations About Anti-Asian Racism With Your Family
The rise in anti-Asian hate incidents over the past year has resurfaced the need for many to have deep, often uncomfortable conversations about racism and discrimination with their loved ones. Click the link to learn more about how to approach those conversations.
Census Delays Complicate California’s Election Process
Public Policy Institute of California's Eric McGhee wrote an article about delays to the decennial census and what needs to take place in order to avoid long-term detriments to our democracy. 
House Approves Major Election Reform And Voting Rights Bill
With a 220-210 vote, the US House of Representatives passed HR1, or the For the People Act, a bill created to protect and expand voting rights. The bill also includes campaign reform, specifically focusing on finance laws. This article explains the bill as well as the possibility and implications of its passing.
Voter Outreach Led to Big Drop in Rejected Mail Ballots
Last year, millions of Americans were able to cast their ballots by mail because of the pandemic. While there were concerns over a record number of rejected ballots, this article provides data to show the opposite occurred. 
It’s Time to Build More Trust in Our Electoral Process; Here’s How
CID's Mindy Romero wrote an op-ed for CalMatters about how to move the needle on voter turnout. The article addresses fundamental changes that would build trust in our elections and democratic institutions.
New Democracy Research
California Population Fact Sheet
The Public Policy Institute of California released a fact sheet about California's population. The report examines factors such as population growth, migration, diversity, aging and more.
Democracy Resources
Asian Americans Advancing Justice Provides Resources to Stand Against Racism
With a recent rise in violence against Asian Americans, AAAJ complied multiple resources to assist in responding to intolerance. Resources include a website which allows those who have experienced discrimination to submit a report, virtual bystander intervention training, and methods to respond to harassment.
Education and Advocacy Toolkit
Nonprofit Vote has created an Education & Advocacy Toolkit complete with information, social media shareables, and sample scripts to assist organizations in their efforts to educate on the effectiveness of policies such as Same Day Registration (SDR) and Vote at Home (VAH). 
Redistricting Watch: What the For the People Act Means for Redistricting
This article explains the process of gerrymandering and its impact on redistricting. The article also addresses how gerrymandering effects voters and subsequent political representation.  
SB 17 Would Create the California Office of Racial Equity
This article discusses the details of SB17 and its implications. SB17 would declare racism a public health crisis and create a state Office of Racial Equity and a Racial Equity Advisory and Accountability Council.
Employment Opportunities
Multiple Fellowships

Multiple Open Positions
Multiple Open Positions
CID in the Media

This article referenced data from CID’s study on automatic voter registration.

Dr. Mindy Romero comments on Governor Gavin Newson's State of the State speech.


The Sacramento Bee

Dr. Mindy Romero explains what the makeup of the electorate could be if there is a recall election.

Dr. Mindy Romero discusses implications of the California recall election.
Share Your Democracy Research with the CID
Please send your short write-up to Veronica Perry at vmperry@usc.edu for consideration. Please note that the CID is now housed at the USC Price School of Public Policy in Sacramento. Thanks for reading and staying engaged! 
Center for Inclusive Democracy
The Center for Inclusive Democracy (CID), formerly known as the California Civic Engagement Project (CCEP), is part of the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy and is based in Sacramento. 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. Now a cornerstone project nested within CID’s larger umbrella, the CCEP continues to produce groundbreaking resources and research for California.