The United States now has on average the lowest voter turnout in the world among mature democracies. With an average turnout rate of 48% between 1945 and 1998, the participation rate of the United States ranks it 139th in the universe of democratic nations. It has often been said that the party most Americans belong to is the party of non-voters. Certainly eligible non-voters, especially in local elections and off-year congressional elections, outnumber partisan voters of each party by a substantial margin. A nation of non-voters seriously undermines the authenticity of our claim to be a nation “of the people, by the people and for the people.”  The Missing Voter Project has initiated an effort in solving the epidemic of non-voting - An ongoing non-partisan Voter Registration program and Voter Mobilization effort.

Summary: Within the Hampton Roads, Virginia region’s seven largest cities, we estimated that approximately 25% of the voting age population, or, about 245,000 potentially eligible voters, were not registered. In collaboration with the Virginia Organizing Project, Democracy South planned, organized, and implemented the First Phase in Solving the Epidemic of Non-voting - a regional, non-partisan voter registration program. In 2008 we began fielding voter registration drives that reached into neighborhoods with the highest concentrations of not-registered, historically underrepresented persons across seven local cities. The program ran until October 6. After, October 6, we began the next phase - Voter Mobilization.

National Unregistered Voter Map

The Missing Voter Project has created an interactive map of the United States depicting the percentage of unregistered voters for each state. Simply click on the desired state and that state along with its counties will be revealed displaying the unregistered voter percentage for each county.

[Click Here to View the National Map]

Donate and Sponsor the Work of the Missing Voter Project

The Missing Voter Project and Democracy South relies solely on the generosity of individuals, foundations, and corporations that share its commitment to our mission. Because Democracy South is a tax-exempt organization under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, U.S. citizens will find their donations to be tax-deductible to the extent allowable by law. Democracy South sponsors provide general support to further our organization's essential work. [more]