Common-Sense Convenience
The idea that Election Day can only be the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November seems to be a thing of the past. The busy and complicated lives of American voters have demanded other choices.
Many states have expanded opportunities to vote before Election Day, in order to accommodate voters’ schedules and in the hope of increasing turnout by making voting more convenient.
These conveniences have proven popular with voters and election officials alike. They help prevent long lines on Election Day, reduce the burden on Election Day pollworkers, and have the potential to increase turnout and expand the electorate, particularly among minority voters.
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Early Voting Reduces Turnout, Unless Combined with Same-Day Registration
Rising early voting participation in recent election cycles has decreased voter turnout in general, putting Election Day on the fast... Read more
Early Voting Debuts in Maryland This Week: Will it Improve Turnout?
Schedule conflicts, work commitments, and transportation issues are just a few reasons why some voters don’t show up on Election... Read more
Policy Paper: Early In-Person Voting: Effects on Underrepresented Voters, Voting Turnout, and Election Administration
In this policy paper, Teresa James examines early voting trends in the 2008 elections, and concludes with best practices for implementing early voting. Read more
Mo.Voter ID Debate is Down to the Wire: Early Voting Provision Rejected by Advocates
The Missouri legislature is once again pushing a controversial measure to combat a mythical problem in the state—registration and voter... Read more
Va. Adjourns with Many Key Bills Expected to Return in 2011
Virginia’s 2010 legislative session began January 13 and continued until March13. Overwhelmingly, the commonwealth’s budget crisis took center stage in... Read more
New Memos Assess Election Laws in 11 States
In preparation for the 2010 legislative season, Project Vote’s Election Administration (EA) Program is releasing a series of election administration... Read more
Arizona City Tries New “Voting Center” Model for City Elections
Here's an interesting way one Arizona city is dealing with early voting and provisional ballot problems, at least in their city elections. The city council of Phoenix has approved an election plan that would essentially eliminate the need to designate polling places during local elections. The plan is currently being reviewed by the Department of Justice and is expected to go into effect with the next mayoral election in 2011. Read more
Voting Rights Groups Urge Florida Governor to Oppose Unjustified and Harmful” Election Legislation”””
Today Project Vote joined 37 other national and Florida-based civil rights organizations in urging Florida Governor Charlie Crist to oppose (and, if necessary, veto) proposed legislation that would "needlessly infringe on the voting rights of Floridians." Read more
Voting Rights Groups Demand Suspension of Ohio Prosecutor’s Investigation” of Lawful Voters”””
A coalition of voting and civil rights groups sent a letter to Hamilton County special prosecutor Michael O’Neill today, urging him to suspend his “troubling” investigation into hundreds of county voters who lawfully registered and cast absentee ballots during Ohio’s five-day window of same day registration and voting. Read more
Groups Win Legal Battle to Protect Ohio Five-Day Window: Voters Can Register and Vote on Same Day
Project Vote, working with a legal team led by ACLU Ohio and Ohio State University Professor Dan Tokaji and other voting rights organizations, successfully protected Ohio's five-day Same-Day Registration (SDR) yesterday. Read more