By Laura Walling, Senior Director of Government Relations, Goodwill Industries International
While considered an “off” year, every election is important and provides an opportunity to be an active participant in our democracy. This year, New Jersey and Virginia will hold regularly scheduled elections for governor. Other state executive offices up for election include lieutenant gubernatorial seats and an attorney general seat. Including down-ballot races, there are seven state executive offices up for election across four states in 2021. Three of the country’s 99 state legislative chambers are holding elections and municipal elections are being held in 22 counties and 70 cities, including 40 mayoral elections. Judges and school board officials may also be on your ballot. Voters in nine states will also consider a total of 39 statewide ballot measures. Three special elections will be held to complete terms in the U.S. House of Representatives in Florida and two districts in Ohio.
From early voting options, polling place hours and ballot return deadlines, every state has their own rules pertaining to elections. Our friends at NonprofitVOTE have created a Voting in Your State tool that includes rules for voting as a person with a prior felony conviction; how to vote as a person experiencing homelessness; late and same day registration options; and much more.
Earlier in the year, the House passed sweeping voting-rights legislation that would affect the way campaigns are financed and districts are drawn and set federal rules on access to the polls. This bill has not garnered the bipartisan support needed to ultimately become law. In recent weeks the Senate aimed to consider the Freedom to Vote Act which would provide more uniformity across the country, requiring early voting, same-day registration, and mail-in voting. However, the measure failed to move through the process.
The Administration is taking their own actions to promote voting access following an Executive Oder signed by President Biden calling for each agency to submit a strategic plan outlining the ways that the agency can promote nonpartisan voter registration and voter participation. Among the commitments made, the Department of Labor will issue guidance encouraging states to designate the more than 2,400 American Job Centers as voter registration agencies. The Department will also provide guidance that grantees can use federal workforce development funding, where consistent with program authority, to conduct nonpartisan voter registration efforts with participants. The Department of Health and Human Services will launch a new voting access hub to connect older adults and people with disabilities to information, tools and resources to help them understand and exercise their right to vote. Additional details can be found here.
From hosting nonpartisan voter registration drives, candidate forums, get out the vote campaigns and allowing employees to take time off in order to vote, many local Goodwill organizations around the country are also doing their part to help individuals become #VoterReady. In observance of National Voter Registration Day we also launched our own site where individuals can register to vote or check their own registration status.
The outcome of the elections could ultimately impact the work, voice, and resources of charitable nonprofits and foundations in various states and localities. Your vote is a representation of your voice and opens the door for other ways for you to be engaged in your community and our democracy. Whether the election turns out the way you wanted or not, wear your “I Voted” sticker proudly on Tuesday and know that you helped make a difference.
