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Putting the Voters in Charge of Fair Voting

Tina Rosenberg

January 23, 2018 |

The New York Times |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Michigan

Politicians across the country draw voting maps to favor their own political parties. In Michigan, a state with extreme congressional gerrymandering, voters are saying enough is enough. A nonpartisan group called Voters Not Politicians has collected 425,000 signatures in support of a ballot measure to create an independent commission to determine voting districts. The all-volunteer force gathered proposals at town hall meetings and spoke with voters at parades, football games, and even highway rest stops.

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Ohio Is At the Center of a National Debate Over Drawing Political Lines

M.L. Schultze

December 22, 2017 |

WKSU |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States

Gerrymandered Congressional districts, drawn using evermore individualized voter data, are set up to tip elections across the United States. Lawmakers and voting advocates are pushing back and creating new methods of making the maps. From independent commissions to constitutional amendments, here’s what’s happening in California, Colorado, Iowa, Ohio, Michigan, Missouri, Oregon, South Dakota and Utah.

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Black Alabamians discuss their decisive role in Doug Jones' victory

Kira Lerner

December 13, 2017 |

ThinkProgress |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Birmingham, Alabama

In Alabama, grassroots organizing targeting black voters resulted in a huge voter turnout. “98 percent of black women voted for Jones (Tyson’s initial estimate was conservative) along with 93 percent of black men.” “Just calling, knocking on doors, talking to people face-to-face, letting them know why this campaign matters, I think that’s the reason we won.”

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Gerrymander reform opens up Florida politics

Hedrick Smith

December 01, 2016 |

Sacramento Bee |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Orlando, Florida

For the third election in a row, House Republicans got bonus seats in 2016, through gerrymandering. Thanks to a grassroots citizen movement and computer sleuthing, Florida admitted to breaking the law and has replaced state maps with more competitive, voter-friendly districts.

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Civic involvement, voting are priorities in Colorado

Matt Woolbright

November 19, 2016 |

Corpus Christi Caller Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Colorado

Colorado recently passed a voter enfranchisement law that required register voters receive a ballot to vote by mail and several more options to vote in general. The mail ballots have greatly boosted voter turnout. Colorado now has about a 75 percent voter turnout rate, with some counties exceeding 80 and 90 percent.

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Finding voter turnout solutions in Colorado

Matt Woolbright

October 24, 2016 |

Corpus Christi Caller Times |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Colorado

Colorado employs a wide array of methods to increase voter turnout, and it pays off. The state is one of the country's most successful in terms of voter turnout, thanks to Election Day voter registration, mail-in ballots sent to every Colorado voter, drop off locations for mail-in ballots, and voter pre-registration for 16- and 17-year old residents.

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Why Philadelphia Should Lower the Voting Age to 16

Roxanne Patel Shepelavy

March 22, 2016 |

The Philadelphia Citizen |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Takoma Park, Maryland

In Takoma Park, Maryland, the voting age for local elections is 16. Lowering the age has increased turnout among youth—and studies show that the sooner people start to vote, the more likely they are to be lifetime voters.

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TurboVote Aims to Make Voting as Easy as Renting a DVD

Josh Dzieza

December 13, 2013 |

NationSwell |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States

TurboVote allows users to fill out voter registration forms online and then mails them the paperwork to sign along with a stamped envelope addressed to the user’s local election office. The site also sends email and text reminders for mailing deadlines and polling place locations to its over 200,000 registered users. TurboVote partners with 68 universities, where many students are first-time voters and/or need to register at a new address. Students at partner universities receive the forms for free (otherwise it costs $1.60 per form) and popup windows on university websites remind students to register.

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