Vote.org

Vote.org uses technology to simplify political engagement, increase voter turnout, and strengthen American democracy. Vote.org helps underserved voters by addressing the barriers that make it difficult for them to participate. In the 2022 election cycle, Vote.org’s website saw more than 14 million visits and helped register more than 725,000 voters for a total of over 7.97 million voters registered to date.

The Problem
Voter turnout in the U.S. is historically among the lowest of all democratic nations in the world. While the 2020 election cycle saw record turnout among U.S. voters, 80 million out of the 240 million eligible voters did not participate due to a lack of political engagement or accessibility. When only two-thirds of eligible voters’ voices are heard, our representatives cannot fully reflect the demographics, backgrounds, experiences, and values of our communities.

Recent election cycles have shown that many potential voters do not participate in elections because they feel uninformed and ill-prepared to cast a ballot. As mis- and disinformation further complicate this issue, the systemic hurdles that have traditionally made voting difficult for Americans — particularly for young voters, low-income voters, and people of color — are exacerbated. Furthermore, politicians have introduced restrictive and suppressive legislation, making it disproportionately more difficult for Black, young, and working Americans to vote. These added restrictions — on early voting, voting by mail, and registration — silence individuals during elections. Historic turnout in the 2022 elections proved that young voters are able to engage in democracy, and continuous proactive effort is needed to increase engagement levels, expand the electorate, and create lifelong voters.

The Solution
Vote.org is the largest nonprofit, nonpartisan voter registration, and get-out-the-vote (GOTV) technology platform in America focused on engaging and activating historically underserved voters of color and underrepresented young voters, making previously silenced voices heard. Using their unique platform, anyone can register or verify their registration, request a mail-in ballot or find their nearest polling location, receive election reminders, and stay up to date on policies that may affect their ability to vote.

Vote.org leverages both digital and direct forms of outreach to further engage and educate young voters. Vote.org has connected with 9 million students across 600 college campuses through educational programming, specifically focusing on historically Black colleges or universities or minority-serving institutions. Additionally, Vote.org encourages corporations to commit to voter-friendly policies, including paid time off to vote on or before election day and distributing company-wide voter information. Finally, through strategic partnerships with corporations such as Snapchat, T-Mobile, and the NBA, and collaborations with influencers and celebrities like Oprah and Taylor Swift, Vote.org is continuing to expand their network and scale their multi-layered approach to reaching voters. Vote.org’s technology powers the programs of many in the civic space, including NAACP, Black Voters Matter, Headcount, Voto Latino, When We All Vote, the NEA, and many other national and local organizations.