CID to Host Democracy Summit in Washington, DC January 29; Release New National Voter Turnout Study

A truly representative democracy is one that fully reflects the nation’s population. But voter turnout in U.S. elections has been anything but representative, particularly for people of color and other often marginalized voting groups. CID will explore the entrenchment of voter turnout disparities in the U.S. and the challenges ahead at a democracy summit on January 29 in Washington, DC.

The Building an Inclusive Democracy: Why Equitable Voter Turnout Matters in the 2024 Elections and Beyond conference, hosted by Dr. Mindy Romero, will feature panels of national and community experts discussing the state of voter turnout in the U.S, and the challenges and opportunities for the 2024 elections and beyond.

Sponsored by Democracy Fund, the event will be held at the new USC Washington D.C. Campus (Dupont Circle) building. Seating will be limited, so early reservations are recommended.

Speakers to be announced soon.

CID’s Mindy Romero gave invited testimony this week before the California Senate Committee on Elections and Constitutional Amendments as part of an oversight hearing on the Voter’s Choice Act (VCA).

Enacted in 2016, the VCA was created to help improve voter engagement and turnout – particularly among more historically marginalized voting groups – in counties opting into the program. In 2022, 27 counties participated in the voting system.

Dr. Romero presented information and data from a recent report titled, The Voter’s Choice Act: Analysis and Recommendations. The report examines the impact of the VCA on voter participation gaps and accessibility of the election process.

Data Dive: Pre-Processing Mail Ballots

A new analysis from the Center for Election Innovation and Research summarizes the timelines that different states use for two key components of absentee or mail ballot processing—envelope processing and ballot scanning. Ballot processing times can be important in detecting errors or irregularities, notifying voters about ballots in need of curing, and helping facilitate the timely reporting of election results. 

Americans’ Dismal Views of the Nation’s Politics

Americans have long been critical of politicians and skeptical of the federal government. But Pew Research reports that Americans’ views of politics and elected officials are unrelentingly negative, with little hope of improvement on the horizon. A significant number – 65 percent – say they always or often feel exhausted when thinking about politics.

On November 7, California Common Cause launched the California Initiative for Technology and Democracy ("CITED").

CITED seeks state-level solutions to the threats that AI, deepfakes, and disinformation pose to our democracy. The initiative is a interdisciplinary hub of expertise and policy recommendations for CA policymakers and regulators. 

CITED's website

Launch video

Online coverage of CITED's launch

A deluge of violent messages: How a surge in threats to public officials could disrupt American democracy

As the 2024 campaign revs up, the ongoing onslaught of violent messages, particularly to federal lawmakers and other public officials, threatens to disrupt the American machinery of government.

New Michigan law means people leaving prison will automatically be registered to vote

Michigan already allows people with felony convictions to regain their voting rights once they're out of prison, but now the state will go one step further and expand automatic registration to incarcerated people after they're released. The goal of the legislation is to improve access for what has historically been a disenfranchised population.

Can a state count all its votes by hand? A North Dakota proposal aims to be the first to try

All election ballots would be counted by hand under a proposal that could go to North Dakota voters. While backers of the proposed ballot measure are far from gathering enough signatures, election officials are already voicing dismay at what they see as a change needlessly delaying vote tallies and leading to more errors.

Los Angeles Times

CID’s Mindy Romero weighs in on the recent Fox News debate between California Governor Gavin Newsom and presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis. “It’s political theater in its most ridiculous form,” she told LA Times columnist Anita Chabria.

Voice of OC

Against a threatened reporter walkout at the Southern California News Group – owner of 10 local newspapers, including the Orange County Register – CID’s Romero commented about the current state of local news as it relates to covering issues important to the electorate. “The public is hearing less about issues that are happening around them in their local communities that are so important and so often more relevant.”