The
Epidemic of Non-voting in America
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.”
Why do we care if so many people don’t vote?
The single most compelling truth about widespread nonvoting in America
is that the current epidemic levels of nonparticipation erode the
legitimacy, capacity and, potentially, the long-term stability of our
governing institutions. In a system of rule based on consent of the
governed, the capacity of a government to act varies in direct
proportion to its support among the people. Widespread nonvoting defeats
one of the primary advantages of democracy--its ability to fully engage
all of the people, in solving their most urgent issues.
Regional
Missing Voter Projects:
The
Hampton Roads Missing Voter Project
Summary: Within the Hampton Roads, Virginia region’s seven
largest cities, we estimate that approximately 25% of the voting age
population, or, about 245,000 potentially eligible voters, are not
registered. In collaboration with the Virginia Organizing Project,
Democracy South is planning, organizing, and implementing the First
Phase in Solving the Epidemic of Non-voting - a regional, non-partisan
voter registration program. On May 22 we began fielding voter
registration drives that will reach into neighborhoods with the highest
concentrations of not-registered, historically under-represented persons
across seven local cities. The program will run until October 6. Our
goal is to register at least 8,000 - 15,000 new Virginia voters in
Hampton Roads.
We Are Looking for Organizations and Groups to Join Us in
The Missing Voter Project
If your organization wants to establish your own co-branded “Missing
Voter Project” effort and organize registration drives in Hampton
Roads, please fill-in your contact information. Your organization will
receive up to 10 co-branded (with your organization’s name) Tee Shirts
(additional shirts can be purchased) as well as registration forms and
useful targeting information when you join our program. Call
800.509.9409 to join.
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