Every Vote Matters: Vote, Educate, Work for Electoral Reform

Every Vote Matters: Vote, Educate, Work for Electoral Reform 

By Ellen Birkett Morris

All you have to do is look at the results of the last presidential election to know that voting matters. A 2015 article in the Atlantic argues that boosting turnout would lead to a more representative democracy. (https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/09/why-non-voters-matter/405250/)

Vote

To vote in Kentucky you must be a U.S. Citizen, current resident of Kentucky, at least 18 years of age on or before the next general election, not a convicted felon -- or if you have been convicted of a felony, your civil rights have been restored by executive pardon -- not been judged "mentally incompetent" in a court of law, and do not claim the right to vote anywhere outside Kentucky.

You want to make your vote count. For many voters that means being able to have a say in narrowing the field of candidates by voting in primary elections. By law, Kentucky has closed party primary elections. You must register as a Democrat or Republican to vote in either party’s primary election. If you choose to register in another political group or organization or designate independent status, you will not be eligible to vote in Republican or Democrat party primary elections.

Educate

If you are already an active voter, help educate young voters, reluctant voters and newly minted citizens in exercising their franchise. Here are some resources to help voters find their way around the process.

Visit https://vrsws.sos.ky.gov/ovrweb/govoteky to register, renew or update your registration, get information about absentee voting, get a sample ballot, get your voting location or find out how to serve as a poll worker.

Reform

A 2016 article from the Brookings Institution notes that voter turnout in the U.S. lags behind almost all other developed, democratic nations. According to the Pew Research Center, the United States ranks 31st out of the 35 countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development when it comes to voter turnout in national elections.

Brookings Senior Fellow William Galston offers suggestions to effectively increase voter turnout—from making Election Day a national holiday, to eliminating voter ID laws, to making voting compulsory. Check out his ideas here:

https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2016/10/05/how-can-we-increase-voter-participation/

Here are several organizations that are working for electoral reform and fair voting practices.

·       ACLU People Power -- https://vote.peoplepower.org/getinvolved

While ACLU lawyers protect our voting rights and fight voter suppression in the courts, PeoplePower activists are going on offense to expand voting rights in every state in the country.

•        American Association of People with Disabilities -- http://www.aapd.com/our-focus/voting/

AAPD advocates for policies that allow people with disabilities to fully participate in the political process, including ensuring the accessibility of polling locations and through promoting the availability of accessible voting technology.

•        People for the American Way -- http://www.pfaw.org/protecting-the-right-to-vote/

PFAW is a progressive advocacy organization founded to fight right-wing extremism and defend constitutional values under attack, including free expression, religious liberty, equal justice under the law, and the right to meaningfully participate in our democracy.

•        Center for Voting and Democracy -- http://www.fairvote.org/about

FairVote is a nonpartisan champion of electoral reforms that give voters greater choice, a stronger voice, and a representative democracy that works for all Americans.