ICYMI: Vote.org CEO Featured on The Downballot Podcast

Vote.org CEO Andrea Hailey was a guest on this week's episode of The Downballot podcast, hosted by David Nir and David Beard. The conversation centered on the escalating attacks on voting rights, states that are leading the way on voter access and registration, and how Vote.org has grown into the largest organization in the country dedicated to boosting voter participation.

You can listen to the episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts!

On Vote.org and why it’s needed:

“At Vote.org we’re focused on on-ramping the next generation into our democracy. And it’s really needed. We want to make sure that people know their election dates and rules in every state. In the US we have 50 different states that administer their own elections, so we need to make sure that everyone knows how to get through the process, so we get the highest number of people through the process possible.”

On states that are leading the way in voter access and registration:

“Colorado stands out. They have a system that gets a high number of people through the process. California [too]. Places where you have [things like] robust voter guides that are sent to voters, you have at least 14 days of early voting, [you have] the ability to vote by mail easily if you need to…States like California and Colorado do a better job of getting more people through the process.

“The real thing to remember is that we’re the country that put a man on the moon. If we want to get something accomplished, we can build the systems to get [it done] in every state. And some states are excited about doing that…and other states are looking at how to pick and choose which votes can participate in the process.”

On voting trends this election cycle:

“We’re seeing a tremendous amount of activity and interest this cycle. We’ve registered over 175,000 people already this year – that’s almost double the last midterm cycle at the same point in time. What’s really exciting is that we know that people on the ground want to have their voice heard.

“About 35% of those people are 18-year-olds, and an 18-year-old is usually one of the most difficult registrations to get, so that’s really exciting. And now our job is going to [be to] make sure that everyone can make it from registration to the ballot box.”

“We’re also seeing a lot of action around major moments in the news. The most recent Supreme Court case, the Voting Rights Act case…voters understood what this meant [because] we saw about double the number of people come to Vote.org to check their registration status right after the decision in the case, than we had seen in Louisiana in the weeks preceding it. So I think a larger trend is that people are paying attention to what’s going on and they seem very eager to have their voice heard this midterm cycle.”

On the nuts and bolts of Vote.org’s work:

“At Vote.org we’ve registered just under 10 million voters now in our history. And one of the things that we do that really makes a difference – we have somewhere between a 75-80% conversion rate, from registration to ballot box – and that’s all because of communication…It really makes a difference when people get several messages leading into the election about how they can participate and encouraging them to get out the vote. By the time the election actually happens, you’ve heard from us several different ways. And it’s really that repetition that really makes the difference and helps to get so many of our voters across the finish line.”

On being CEO of Vote.org:

“For me personally, the battles that have been fought and won in past generations affect my life directly – the ability to vote, the ability to have my voice heard – so it’s all a natural fit at Vote.org and my greatest hope is that I have the ability to serve our community and serve others and protect access for years to come.”