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Vote.org,formerlyLong Distance Voter,is a nonpartisan501(c)(3)non-profit organization that is based in theUnited States.[1]It provides online voter guides for every state, including voter registration forms, absentee ballot applications, and information on deadlines, directions, and ID and residency requirements.[2]

History[edit]

Vote.org was founded byDebra Cleaverin 2008. The organization was named Long Distance Voter at the time, and sought to increase voter turnout by providing greater access toabsentee votinginformation online.[3][4]The organization was volunteer-run and did not have any full time staff from 2008-2016. Cleaver became the first full-time employee in January 2016.

Long Distance Voter relaunched as Vote.org in April 2016, and was accepted intoY Combinatorin June 2016. The mission was updated to reflect a new goal of 100% voter turnout.[4][5][6]During the Y Combinator demo day, Cleaver pitched the then-novel use of unsolicited text messages as a way of registering voters.[7]In Fall 2016, Vote.org worked withHustleto run a nationwide SMS peer-to-peer voter registration program in which they sent millions of text messages to unregistered voters. The program was then expanded to include polling place location information for registered voters. A quantitative evaluation of this program found that these messages increased turnout by 0.2 percentage points.[8]Since then, Vote.org has run many experiments, primarily using randomized controlled trials (RCTs) measuring the effectiveness of voter turnout tactics and messaging.[9]

In March 2018, Vote.org launched ElectionDay.org, a campaign that encouraged CEOs of large companies to voluntarily give their employees time off to vote on Election Day.[10][11]As of 2020, over 1000 companies had opted to participate, includingTwitter,T-Mobile,Lyft,andAdidas.[12][13]

In June 2020, Vote.org,the Alliance for Retired Americans,andthe American Civil Liberties Union of Mainefiled suit against Maine. The lawsuit alleged that Maine's voting systems were inaccessible and out-of-date, thereby creating barriers to voting. The lawsuit highlighted a lack of voter registration options, a lack of prepaid postage on mail-in ballots, ballot collection hurdles, an Election Day receipt deadline, and rejection of absentee ballots that had technical defects.[14]In September 2020, Superior Court judge William Stokes rejected the lawsuit, citing that the suit took place too close to the actual election and any changes to ballot deadlines would be to the detriment of the state's electoral process and cause disruptions to results. The Alliance of Retired Americans now seek to file an appeal to Maine'sSupreme Judicial Court.[15]

In 2020, Vote.org organized food trucks at polling places, and provided free meals to 40,500 voters who were waiting in long lines.[16]Vote.org partnered with tech company Propel, developer of the Fresh EBT app, to register 60,000 low-income participants of theSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Programto register to vote before the 2020 election.[17]

In 2021, Vote.org advocated for passing theFor the People Act,a U.S. bill which expands automatic and same-day voter registration, voter access mail-in and online ballot infrastructure, and new limits on campaign spending.[18]Fair Fight Action,When We All Vote,theDeclaration for American Democracy,and Vote.org drafted a letter which was signed by 90 corporations; the letter urged Congress to pass theFor the People Act.[19]On March 3, 2021, theUnited States House of Representativesapproved the For the People Act with a 220–210 vote. On June 22, theSenatevoted 50–50 to continue debate on the bill, which means the act did not pass.[18]Vote.org also worked withFair Fight ActionandWhen We All Voteto oppose changes in Georgia's voter ID laws.[19]

Also in 2021, Vote.org partnered withthe CW networkand theLawyers' Committee for Civil Rightsunder law to launch the Freedom to Vote nonpartisan initiative, which aimed to increase content promoting voter registration and civic participation on a number of different platforms.[20]This is an expansion of the CW's and Vote.org previous Vote Actually campaign in 2020.[21]

In 2023, the DOJ filed a statement of interest in a lawsuit challenging a Florida voter registration law that mandates people to sign their name with a wet signature, with physical pen and paper. Voting advocacy groups Vote.org, the Florida Alliance for Retired Americans and the Florida State Conference of theNAACPfiled the lawsuit against Florida Secretary of StateCord Byrdand other state election officials.[22][23][24][25][26][27]

In September 2023,Taylor Swiftposted an Instagram message asking her 272 million followers to register to vote and linking to Vote.org. Vote.org reported more than 35,000 applications submitted onNational Voter Registration Day,due in part to Swift’s superstar influence.[28][29][30][31][32]For the partnership, Vote.org and Swift were awarded aWebby Awardfor Best Creator or Influencer Collaboration, Features (Social) in 2024.[33]

Controversies[edit]

In the summer of 2019, the organization's board terminated founder and CEODebra Cleaver,citing "differences in opinion".[34]This resulted in losses in funding, including $4 million of promised funding fromSage Weil.[35]Cleaver was replaced by board member Andrea Hailey.[36]

In October 2019, Vote.org purchased billboards in Mississippi to encourage turnout in an upcoming election. The billboards had the wrong date.[37]

Founder Debra Cleaver filed a lawsuit against Vote.org in August 2022 alleging wrongful termination and a misappropriation of charitable funds.[38][39]

In May 2024, an investigative article inThe Chronicle of Philanthropy,detailed a litany of ongoing issues at Vote.org including regulatory and compliance failures such as fundraising in states without a valid registration including New York in 2019 until November 2021 as required by New York State Law.[40]Questionable financial decisions have also been uncovered such as tax forms signed by a contractor, donations which were not recorded in financial statements according to an official audit of Vote.org in July 2021, and an ongoing lawsuit for disability discrimination.[41]

References[edit]

  1. ^"Vote Org | Charity Navigator Profile".charitynavigator.org.Retrieved2023-05-25.
  2. ^Thorpe, JR (2017-03-07)."Debra Cleaver, Founder Of Vote.org, Is Making Women's History Now".Bustle.Retrieved2018-05-11.
  3. ^"Long Distance Voter Goes the Distance".Teen Vogue.2008-10-24. Archived fromthe originalon 2018-05-11.Retrieved2018-05-11.
  4. ^abVetter, Moira (2016-05-13)."What Can Non-Profit Startup Vote.org Do With Y Combinator Seed Funding In 178 Days?".Forbes.Retrieved2018-05-11.
  5. ^"Vote.org is a non-profit that wants to get the U.S. to 100% voter turnout".Y Combinator.2016-05-17.Retrieved2018-05-11.
  6. ^Fitts, Alexis Sobel (2016-11-06)."This Y Combinator-backed company wants to redesign the voting process for the digital age".Business Insider.Retrieved2018-05-11.
  7. ^Fitts, Alexis Sobel."This Y Combinator-Backed Company Has a Secret Weapon to Sway Elections".Wired.ISSN1059-1028.Retrieved2023-05-25.
  8. ^"VOTE.org + Hustle: Voter Registration GOTV peer-to-peer texting - The Shorty Awards".shortyawards.Retrieved2021-03-25.
  9. ^"Vote.org Research".2020-01-29.Retrieved2021-11-23.
  10. ^Steinmetz, Katy (2018-03-12)."Should Employers Give You Election Day Off? These Companies Think So".Time.Archived fromthe originalon 2018-05-11.Retrieved2018-05-11.
  11. ^von Bernuth, Lauren (2018-05-08)."Companies are Signing Up to 'Party Down For Democracy' & Make Election Day a Holiday".Citizen Truth.Retrieved2018-05-11.
  12. ^"Electionday.org | Participating Companies".ELECTIONDAY.ORG.Retrieved2021-03-25.
  13. ^Kelly, Kate; Maheshwari, Sapna (2020-10-23)."Paid Time Off, Free Fries: How Corporate America Is Getting Out the Vote".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.Retrieved2024-02-01.
  14. ^"Voting by Mail Should be Easy, and This Organization is Suing to Ensure It is".29 July 2020.
  15. ^Caitlin Andrews (2020-09-30)."Maine judge turns back lawsuit seeking major 2020 election changes, but appeal likely".Bangor Daily News.Retrieved2021-09-27.
  16. ^"Making it Count • The Nob Hill Gazette".The Nob Hill Gazette.2021-01-02.Retrieved2021-09-27.
  17. ^Field, Anne."How Propel And Vote.org Helped Register 60,000 SNAP Beneficiaries To Vote".Forbes.Retrieved2021-09-27.
  18. ^ab"HR1," For the People Act of 2021 "".Ballotpedia.Retrieved2021-09-27.
  19. ^ab"Stacey Abrams, Michelle Obama urge voters to join the fight to protect access to the ballot".Washington Post.ISSN0190-8286.Retrieved2021-09-27.
  20. ^Crawford, Lacy Jr. (2021-08-06)."Lawyers' Committee Partners with The CW and Vote.org to Launch New Nonpartisan Initiative to Protect the Freedom to Vote".Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.Retrieved2021-11-23.
  21. ^Tapp, Tom (2020-09-09)."CW Announces New Initiative, CW Vote Actually, To Encourage Viewers To Make Their Voices Heard In 2020".Deadline.Retrieved2021-11-23.
  22. ^"Civil Rights Division | Vote.org v. Byrd | United States Department of Justice".justice.gov.2023-08-04.Retrieved2023-11-19.
  23. ^"Case 4:23-cv-00111-AW-MAF"(PDF).justice.gov.
  24. ^"🚨 New filing in Vote.org v. Byrd".Democracy Docket.2023-03-16.Retrieved2023-11-19.
  25. ^Fineout, Gary; Leonard, Kimberly (2023-07-25)."Florida loses bid to lock DOJ out of voting case".POLITICO.Retrieved2023-11-19.
  26. ^"Florida officials hit with federal suit over signature rule for prospective voters".NBC News.2023-03-17.Retrieved2023-11-19.
  27. ^Vigdor, Neil (2023-03-16)."Florida Faces Federal Lawsuit Over Signature Rules for New Voters".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.Retrieved2023-11-19.
  28. ^Sullivan, Becky (September 22, 2023)."A Taylor Swift Instagram post helped drive a surge in voter registration".NPR.
  29. ^"Taylor Swift told fans to register to vote -- then Vote.org got 35K new voter registrations".ABC News.Retrieved2023-11-19.
  30. ^"Instagram".instagram.Retrieved2023-11-19.
  31. ^Chan, Anna (2023-11-07)."Taylor Swift Reminds Fans to Vote on Election Day: 'It's Time to Use Your Voice'".Billboard.Retrieved2023-11-19.
  32. ^"Traffic surged 1,226% on Vote.org after Taylor Swift urged fans to register to vote".FOX TV Stations.2023-09-21.Retrieved2023-11-19.
  33. ^Tinoco, Armando (April 23, 2024)."Webby Awards Winners List: Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, Ryan Gosling, Keke Palmer, Shannon Sharpe & Julia Louis-Dreyfus Among Honored".Deadline Hollywood.RetrievedApril 24,2024.
  34. ^"Debra Cleaver, Founder Of Vote.org, Is Making Women's History Now".Bustle.Retrieved2021-09-27.
  35. ^Schleifer, Theodore (2020-04-28)."One of America's key voting rights groups plunged into chaos when it was needed most".Vox.Retrieved2021-09-27.
  36. ^"Vote.org CEO Andrea Hailey on the Issues Voters Care Most About This Midterm Election".Glamour.2022-11-04.Retrieved2023-11-19.
  37. ^"An organization bought billboards to remind voters of Election Day. The signs had the wrong dates".CNN.Retrieved24 May2023.
  38. ^"Vote.org, an Influential Voting Rights Group, Faces a Lawsuit by its Founder".Time.Retrieved24 May2023.
  39. ^Admin (2022-08-22)."Vote.org-Voting Rights Organization, Is Being Sued By Its Founder!".Expert Legal Review.Retrieved2023-11-19.
  40. ^"Fund Raising Professional Registration".NYC-Business.NYC.gov.
  41. ^"Turmoil at Vote.org".Philanthropy.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vote.org&oldid=1224610768"