Voter Education Issues to Watch

"Because Equity is Still an Issue."

For more information: AAUW Fact Sheets and Position Papers on Affirmative Action, Athletics, Education, Managed Care Reform, Reproductive Rights, and Social Security Reform.

Index:

Updated: March 24, 2013

Peace and Economic Justice Issues

Peace Action’s Voting Record will show you how Members of Congress voted on key peace and economic justice issues in the last session. This is the first year we designed our annual voting record as an interactive tool. I hope you find it useful.

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Florida Judge Gives Go-Ahead for Voter Purge

A federal judge in Florida has rejected a request by the Department of Justice to stop the state’s purge of noncitizens from voter registration rolls, which was set in motion earlier this spring. Judge Robert Hinkle previously ruled against parts of the Florida law that regulate voter registration by outside groups, and in his decision Thursday said that federal voter registration laws could not prohibit the state from identifying and removing ineligible voters even though its primary is fewer than 90 days away.

- from AAUW's Washington Update for June 29, 2012.

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Voters Rank Education as Extremely Important Election Issue

A new report concludes that education is a top-tier issue for voters in 2012. Using a survey of registered voters in nine key swing states, the report found that 67 percent of swing state voters say education will be extremely important to them in this year’s elections for president and Congress. Education ranks behind jobs and the economy (82 percent) and government spending (69 percent) but ties with health care (67 percent) and comes in before the federal budget deficit (64 percent). The report also found that the gender gap on education as a priority holds across party lines, with women placing a greater priority on education regardless of party affiliation.

AAUW believes a strong, free public education system is the foundation of a democratic society. We advocate increased access to higher education, especially for women in poverty, and promote efforts to close the persistent achievement gap that disproportionately affects low-income children and students from minority communities.

- from AAUW's Washington Update for April 6, 2012.

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Clash over Student Voting Rights

Republican lawmakers in New Hampshire recently introduced a handful of bills that would limit college students’ ability to vote in the state. The proposed legislation would end Election Day registration and only allow college students to vote in their college towns if their parents had previously established permanent residency in the town. However, in light of vehement opposition from Democrats and students, the bills failed to pass the state House Election Law Committee. Their demise may have been related to a controversial YouTube video in which New Hampshire State House Speaker William O’Brien called students “foolish” and said they “just vote with their feelings”.

Republicans in Wisconsin and North Carolina have also introduced bills to restrict voter registration, including requiring state-issued ID cards. Democrats believe the Republican effort to change voter registration laws is an attempt to restrict democratic voters in potential 2012 battleground states.

AAUW members have a long tradition of voter education and registration. AAUW branches can increase the numbers of regular voters by bringing nonvoters into their network. This can be done woman to woman.

- from AAUW's Washington Update for March 11, 2011.

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NYS's Sunlight Site

SunLightNY.com is a site which Attorney General Cuomo's office has developed to let us see the internal results of campaign financing. You can learn the source of a candidate's funds, the legislation representatives have sponsored and the laws governing special interests. It is a wonderful source of information, useful to all of us.

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Take Our Daughters to the Polls

A new campaign has been launched to call on all parents to take their daughters to the polls when they vote on Election Day. The “Take Our Daughters to the Polls” campaign encourages adults to speak with their daughters about the importance of voting and to show them how to participate in the electoral process. The campaign was created by the White House Project, a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing women’s leadership in the United States, and supported by numerous national organizations, including AAUW. You can participate by signing the pledge to take a young girl to the polls on Nov. 4 and by spreading the word.

- from AAUW's Washington Update for October 3, 2008.

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The Sunlight Foundation

A great organization to empower watchdogs! The foundation is using the power of the Internet to "shine a light on the interplay of money, lobbying, influence and government in Washington in ways never before possible." They have compiled a great list of helpful sites for those of us wanting the insider's scoop on all things government and politics.

Just a few of the sites that the Sunlight Foundation features - and in some cases, funds - include:

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The Power of One Vote

Your one vote can make a difference.

- from AAUW's Action Alert, Sept. 2004.

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