With each generation, voters are more diverse, so why is our voting system still fit for 19th century white landowners?
When a modern nation holds outdated elections, it wastes millions of dollars, undermines voter confidence, and denies a ton of eligible citizens their sacred right to democracy. The young voters of today are the largest and most diverse voting bloc in our nation’s history, and we deserve a voting system that reflects who we are and the progress we’ve made.
Democracy Done Right is about fixing all that. We believe that when more people participate in our democracy, the better it works. And for more people to participate in our democracy, we must build voting systems for the modern voter.
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Take Action
Sign the Petition Today
We want a voting system for modern America. So, what does democracy done right actually look like?
- Every eligible citizen is automatically registered, and up-to-date via agencies like the DMV
- Every eligible citizen can freely choose the best voting option for them
- No citizen ever loses their voting rights
We are calling on our elected leaders to support us in creating a voting system that reflects the America we are, right now. Join the Democracy Done Right campaign by signing the petition!
Get #VoteReady Today
Getting #VoteReady (and staying ready!) is one of the most powerful ways we can fight for our democracy, and that power is in our own hands.
Use our #VoteReady center to check your registration status, register to vote, and see what’s on your ballot. Start making your plan to vote today!
Help Protect Our Democracy
No matter our background or zip code, we should value our freedom to vote. When our people cannot vote, our voices are silenced and we cannot elect representatives who reflect our values.
Check out our blog post featuring ways you can help protect our democracy right now. Our vote is our power, let’s defend it together.
Democracy Done Right Zine
This year, the Alliance is celebrating 10 years as a network. That’s 10 years of collective youth organizing and 10 years of progressive advocacy towards a stronger democracy. As part of the ongoing celebration, we took a new approach to uplift all of the network’s democracy and voting rights advocacy under our Democracy Done Right work. Check out the Alliance’s first-ever Democracy Done Right Zine!
The Democracy Done Right Zine was made possible by the work of the Alliance Network, and graphic design talents from Mori West.
Additional Links
Our Network – Get more info on the organizations in the Alliance Network featured in the zine.
Civic Holidays – Read more about National Voter Registration Day, National Voter Education Week, Vote Early Day, and Election Hero Day.
National Voter Registration Day – Read more about the Civic Holiday co-founded by the Alliance.
Meet the Artists
Ollie Bandong
they/them/theirs
David Ellis
he/him/his
Caro Gutierrez
they/them/theirs
King Moosa
he/him/his
Raphael Miller
he/she/they
Anya Ramos
she/her/hers
Our Work
Alliance youth organizers are turning ideal, innovative reforms like Automatic Voter Registration into viral, inevitable policies across the nation.
PASSING VOTER RIGHTS POLICIES
We give local organizations the tools and support to pass voter rights policies between communities. These wins move the needle on voting rights. Reforms that were once long shots have been moved to the top of the agenda.
WORKING WITH LOCAL ELECTION ADMINISTRATORS
Alliance youth organizers lay the groundwork for great reforms by working with local election administrators to protect and expand convenient youth voting options, regardless of who controls the state government.
PROTECTING PROGRESS
We protect the progress of the voting rights activists before us by uplifting youth organizers who are fighting back against voter suppression efforts in the states and at the federal level.
Protect Democracy Initiatives
Campus Takeover is a nationwide effort to mobilize students around elections and to create a culture of civic engagement on college campuses during the Civic Holidays.
National Voter Education Week helps voters bridge the gap between registering to vote and casting a ballot. During this week, voters have the opportunity to find their polling location, understand their ballot, make a plan to vote in person or remotely, and more.
Vote Early Day is a movement of nonprofits, businesses, election administrators, and creatives working to ensure all Americans know their options to vote early and make their voices heard.
The Alliance is a proud partner of Power the Polls. In 2020, America faced a record shortage of poll workers, and over 700,000 people stepped up via Power the Polls to help address that challenge. Our democracy depends on ordinary people who make sure every election runs smoothly and everyone’s vote is counted.
Poll Results
In collaboration with Civiqs, we recently polled young people ages 17-39 across the political spectrum in battleground states on their top policy priorities and issues driving them to the polls this November, their feelings about politicians and government institutions, and their opinions about the 2022 midterms. The overwhelming majority of young voters indicated they plan on engaging in the 2022 midterm elections. With 86% of young people saying they plan to vote this fall, protecting our democracy should stay a top priority for our elected leaders.
Democracy Wins Across the Network
AMERICA’S FIRST AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION LAW
Starting in 2009, our affiliate the Oregon Bus Project (now known as Next Up) began a campaign to register voters automatically at state agencies like the DMV. In 2015, they won – sparking a series of AVR reforms across the country.
EARLY VOTING AND ONLINE VOTER REGISTRATION LAWS
Nearly a decade ago, affiliates New Era Colorado and Next Up helped trigger a new wave of online voter registration victories that helped make it the mainstream policy of today.
In 2021 Forward Montana Foundation sued their state over House Bill 506, a bill that would restrict access to the ballot for voters who turn 18 in the month before Election Day, and won! In August, 2022 a judge declared the bill unconstitutional, finding that it infringes on young Montanans’ right to vote.
BRINGING ELECTION DAY VOTER REGISTRATION & ONLINE VOTER REGISTRATION TO ILLINOIS
In 2019 Chicago Votes helped pass Senate Bill 2090, making Cook County Jail the first jail in the country to become a polling place. The legislation also provides voter education and voter registration form to people in the re-entry process.
KEEPING STUDENT POLLING PLACES ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES
As the right to vote has come under attack in the country, affiliates Forward Montana, MOVE Texas, Next Up, Engage Miami, and New Era Colorado have successfully preserved on-campus access to the ballot.
Engage Miami fought for and won early voting sites at Miami college campuses for the 2018 Midterm Elections. The Washington Bus and New Era Colorado were able to get ballot drop-off boxes on campuses across their respective states. And MOVE Texas won polling locations on Texas college campuses contributing to a dramatic increase in student voter turnout.
VOTER PRE-REGISTRATION FOR 16 AND 17-YEAR-OLDS
Allowing high-school aged Americans to pre-register to vote is one of the most effective ways to create lifelong voters. Which is why affiliates New Era Colorado & Next Up fought for & won it.