Virtual Panel Discussion: Why People Don’t Vote – Oct 18

Posted by Urban Affairs Coalition on October 18, 2022

Election Day may still be a few weeks away, but voting for this year’s midterm elections has already begun in some parts of the country, including here in Pennsylvania. Midterm elections typically see lower voter turnout than presidential elections, but we know these races have an impact on the City and the Commonwealth.

We often hear that voter nonparticipation is a result of apathy. We ask you to reconsider the notion. In fact, there is significant research that suggests the presumed gap between voters’ and nonvoters’ concern about the issues is very narrow or even nonexistent. This is important for many reasons, not least of which is that it has implications for how we engage people in exercising their right. Shaming is not the answer. Empowerment—with information—is a better strategy.

The organizations dedicated to voter empowerment in our region are too numerous to list. They include our partners at Better Civics and PA Youth Vote, two nonpartisan nonprofit organizations that provide individuals, educators, and communities with a variety of educational resources about how to be civically engaged, how the levels of government function, and how to learn more about our candidates’ stances on the issues. They include the Committee of Seventy, which works tirelessly to inform and engage citizens, and assure that every vote counts equally.

If you’re interested in learning more about work like this, join us on Tuesday, October 18, 2022, at 5:00 PM for a virtual panel discussion hosted by the Forum of Executive Women. We will explore the research on nuanced reasons people do or don’t vote and the strategies for engaging non-voters in the process.

Learn more and register.