WHEN WE ALL VOTE

John,

Welcome back to "The Good, The Bad, The Ugly," your go-to source for the latest voting news and what lies ahead. In today’s issue, we'll share recent developments in Michigan, where legislation has expanded automatic voter registration; dive into Louisiana’s lowest voter turnout in a gubernatorial election in twelve years; and explore what’s happening in North Carolina, where vetoes concerning election regulations have been overturned, shaping the battleground for future elections.

So, buckle up and join us as we navigate the world of voting — where The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly all meet. 😉

THE GOOD:

Last week, the Michigan State House passed legislation [[link removed]] to enhance Michigan's current system for automatically registering voters when they apply for a driver's license unless they choose to opt-out.

These bills also include automatic voter registration when citizens apply for Michigan's Medicaid program or when returning citizens seek to reinstate their driver's license. Additionally, other state agencies may also be authorized to automatically register voters in the future.

THE BAD:

In a series of votes last week, the North Carolina House and Senate, where Republicans hold narrow supermajorities, overturned two vetoes by Democratic Governor Roy Cooper [[link removed]].

One law would eliminate a three-day grace period to receive and count absentee ballots as long as they are postmarked by Election Day, which could negatively impact North Carolina voters. The other removes the governor's authority to appoint members to the State Board of Elections. Historically, this board consisted of five members, with the governor's party having control over three of those seats. However, starting on January 1, the board will expand to eight members, leading to an even 4-4 split. This change may result in potential deadlocks within the board, which could reduce the number of local early in-person voting locations.

THE UGLY:

Over the past weekend, Louisiana witnessed its lowest voter turnout in a gubernatorial election in twelve years — comparable to the historically lackluster participation in 2011 when former Governor Bobby Jindal effortlessly secured re-election due to the absence of a well-organized opponent.

This year, approximately 280,000 fewer ballots were cast than in 2019, when Governor John Bel Edwards faced two challengers in his re-election bid. The number of voters decreased by approximately 52,000 compared to Edwards' initial run in 2015.

The most significant declines in voter turnout were in the northern Louisiana parishes of Richland, East Carroll, and West Carroll, where participation plummeted from over 50% in 2019 to less than 38% this year. Notably, New Orleans saw a 30% reduction in turnout compared to 2019. Despite these disheartening numbers, it's essential to remember that there is still an opportunity to vote in Louisiana this fall. Runoff elections are scheduled for November 18th for critical positions including Attorney General, Secretary of State, and Treasurer.

John, while we continue to celebrate the wins, it's important that we also acknowledge the persistent attempts to silence our voices. With just 19 days remaining until Election Day, we must remain focused, engaged, and committed to ensuring our friends, families, and communities are registered to vote. We have already registered thousands of voters, and with your support, we can register thousands more. Will you make a donation today to support our work to register more voters ahead of Election Day? [[link removed]]

DONATE [[link removed]]

Remember, there are no 'off years’ in democracy. I’ll be back soon to check in with more important voting news and updates.

— Nandi

Nandi Henderson
Email Campaign Manager
When We All Vote 🗳️

DONATE [[link removed]]

[[link removed]] [[link removed]] [[link removed]]


When We All Vote
PO Box 34673
1400 L Street NW
Washington, DC xxxxxx
United States
[[email protected]] | 202-908-5226
If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe: [link removed] .
© 2023 Civic Nation, All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy [[link removed]]
When We All Vote is a non-partisan initiative of Civic Nation, a 501(c3).