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{{short description|American non-profit voter advocacy organization}}{{Infobox organization
{{Short description|Non-profit voter advocacy organization}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Vote.org
| name = Vote.org
| formation = 2008
| formation = 2008
| formerly = Long Distance Voter
| logo = Voteorg.svg
| type = [[501(c)3]]
| formerly =
| type = [[501(c)(3)]] [[nonprofit]]
| purpose = [[Voter registration]] <br /> [[Get out the vote]]
| website = {{Official website}}
| website = {{Official website}}
}}
}}


'''Vote.org''', formerly '''Long Distance Voter''', is a nonpartisan [[501(c)(3)]] non-profit organization that is based in the [[United States]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vote Org {{!}} Charity Navigator Profile |url=https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/262094990 |access-date=2023-05-25 |website=www.charitynavigator.org}}</ref> It provides online voter guides for every state, including voter registration forms, absentee ballot applications, and information on deadlines, directions, and ID and residency requirements.<ref>{{cite web|last=Thorpe|first=JR|date=2017-03-07|title=Debra Cleaver, Founder Of Vote.org, Is Making Women's History Now|url=https://www.bustle.com/p/debra-cleaver-founder-of-voteorg-is-making-womens-history-now-42771|access-date=2018-05-11|work=[[Bustle (magazine)|Bustle]]}}</ref>
'''Vote.org''', formerly '''Long Distance Voter''', is a nonpartisan [[501(c)(3)]] non-profit organization that is based in the [[United States]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hughes |first=Trevor |title=Why do celebrities endorse politicians? Because it can sway votes. |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/08/19/dnc-celebrities-influence-voters/74842925007/ |access-date=2024-08-22 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="Mueller">{{Cite web |last=Mueller |first=Julia |date=2024-04-19 |title=Vote.org planning its largest voter-registration campaign ever |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4605066-vote-org-planning-its-largest-voter-registration-campaign-ever/ |access-date=2024-08-22 |website=The Hill |language=en-US}}</ref> It provides online voter guides for every state, including [[voter registration]] forms, [[absentee ballot]] applications, and information on deadlines, directions, and ID and residency requirements.<ref>{{cite web|last=Thorpe|first=JR|date=2017-03-07|title=Debra Cleaver, Founder Of Vote.org, Is Making Women's History Now|url=https://www.bustle.com/p/debra-cleaver-founder-of-voteorg-is-making-womens-history-now-42771|access-date=2018-05-11|work=[[Bustle (magazine)|Bustle]]}}</ref> The organization is best known for large-scale voter registration programs, registering 4 million voters in the 2020 election cycle alone.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/3630379-vote-org-unveils-10m-campaign-to-register-young-americans/|title=Vote.org unveils $10M campaign to register young Americans|first=Brad|last=Dress|date=September 6, 2022}}</ref>


== History ==
== History ==
Vote.org was founded by [[Debra Cleaver]] in 2008. The organization was named Long Distance Voter at the time, and sought to increase voter turnout by providing greater access to [[absentee voting]] information online.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/long-distance-voter-goes-the-d |title=Long Distance Voter Goes the Distance |work=[[Teen Vogue]] |date=2008-10-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511182528/https://www.teenvogue.com/story/long-distance-voter-goes-the-d |archive-date=2018-05-11 |access-date=2018-05-11}}</ref><ref name="vetter" /> The organization was volunteer-run and did not have any full time staff from 2008-2016. Cleaver became the first full-time employee in January 2016.
Vote.org was founded by [[Debra Cleaver]] in 2008. The organization was named Long Distance Voter at the time, and sought to increase voter turnout by providing greater access to absentee voting information online.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/long-distance-voter-goes-the-d |title=Long Distance Voter Goes the Distance |work=[[Teen Vogue]] |date=2008-10-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511182528/https://www.teenvogue.com/story/long-distance-voter-goes-the-d |archive-date=2018-05-11 |access-date=2018-05-11}}</ref><ref name="vetter" /> The organization was volunteer-run and did not have any full-time staff from 2008 to 2016. Cleaver became the first full-time employee in January 2016.


Long Distance Voter relaunched as Vote.org in April 2016, and was accepted into [[Y Combinator]] in June 2016. The mission was updated to reflect a new goal of 100% voter turnout.<ref name="vetter">{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/moiravetter/2016/05/13/what-can-non-profit-startup-vote-org-do-with-y-combinator-seed-funding-in-178-days/ |title=What Can Non-Profit Startup Vote.org Do With Y Combinator Seed Funding In 178 Days? |last=Vetter |first=Moira |date=2016-05-13 |work=[[Forbes.com]] |access-date=2018-05-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://blog.ycombinator.com/vote-org/ |title=Vote.org is a non-profit that wants to get the U.S. to 100% voter turnout |publisher=[[Y Combinator]] |date=2016-05-17 |access-date=2018-05-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/this-y-combinator-backed-company-wants-to-redesign-the-voting-process-for-the-digital-age-2016-11 |title=This Y Combinator-backed company wants to redesign the voting process for the digital age |last=Fitts |first=Alexis Sobel |date=2016-11-06 |work=[[Business Insider]] |access-date=2018-05-11}}</ref> During the Y Combinator demo day, Cleaver pitched the then-novel use of unsolicited text messages as a way of registering voters.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Fitts |first=Alexis Sobel |title=This Y Combinator-Backed Company Has a Secret Weapon to Sway Elections |language=en-US |magazine=Wired |url=https://www.wired.com/2016/11/this-y-combinator-backed-company-has-a-secret-weapon-to-sway-elections/ |access-date=2023-05-25 |issn=1059-1028}}</ref> In Fall 2016, Vote.org worked with [[Hustle (company)|Hustle]] to run a nationwide SMS peer-to-peer voter registration program in which they sent millions of text messages to unregistered voters. The program was then expanded to include polling place location information for registered voters. A quantitative evaluation of this program found that these messages increased turnout by 0.2 percentage points.<ref>{{Cite web|title=VOTE.org + Hustle: Voter Registration GOTV peer-to-peer texting - The Shorty Awards|url=http://shortyawards.com/2nd-socialgood/voteorg-hustle-voter-registration-and-gotv-with-texting|access-date=2021-03-25|website=shortyawards.com}}</ref> Since then, Vote.org has run many experiments, primarily using randomized controlled trials (RCTs) measuring the effectiveness of voter turnout tactics and messaging.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-01-29 |title=Vote.org Research |url=https://www.vote.org/research |access-date=2021-11-23 |language=en-US}}</ref>
Long Distance Voter relaunched as Vote.org in April 2016, and was accepted into [[Y Combinator]] in June 2016. The mission was updated to reflect a new goal of 100% voter turnout.<ref name="vetter">{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/moiravetter/2016/05/13/what-can-non-profit-startup-vote-org-do-with-y-combinator-seed-funding-in-178-days/ |title=What Can Non-Profit Startup Vote.org Do With Y Combinator Seed Funding In 178 Days? |last=Vetter |first=Moira |date=2016-05-13 |work=[[Forbes.com]] |access-date=2018-05-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://blog.ycombinator.com/vote-org/ |title=Vote.org is a non-profit that wants to get the U.S. to 100% voter turnout |publisher=[[Y Combinator]] |date=2016-05-17 |access-date=2018-05-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/this-y-combinator-backed-company-wants-to-redesign-the-voting-process-for-the-digital-age-2016-11 |title=This Y Combinator-backed company wants to redesign the voting process for the digital age |last=Fitts |first=Alexis Sobel |date=2016-11-06 |work=[[Business Insider]] |access-date=2018-05-11}}</ref> During the Y Combinator demo day, Cleaver pitched the then-novel use of unsolicited text messages as a way of registering voters.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Fitts |first=Alexis Sobel |date=November 2, 2016 |title=This Y Combinator-Backed Company Has a Secret Weapon to Sway Elections |url=https://www.wired.com/2016/11/this-y-combinator-backed-company-has-a-secret-weapon-to-sway-elections/ |access-date=2023-05-25 |magazine=Wired |language=en-US |issn=1059-1028}}</ref> In Fall 2016, Vote.org worked with [[Hustle (company)|Hustle]] to run a nationwide SMS peer-to-peer voter registration program in which they sent millions of text messages to unregistered voters. The program was then expanded to include polling place location information for registered voters. A quantitative evaluation of this program found that these messages increased turnout by 0.2 percentage points.<ref>{{Cite web |title=VOTE.org + Hustle: Voter Registration GOTV peer-to-peer texting |url=http://shortyawards.com/2nd-socialgood/voteorg-hustle-voter-registration-and-gotv-with-texting |access-date=2021-03-25 |website=[[Shorty Awards]]}}</ref> Since then, Vote.org has run many experiments, primarily using randomized controlled trials (RCTs) measuring the effectiveness of voter turnout tactics and messaging.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-01-29 |title=Vote.org Research |url=https://www.vote.org/research |access-date=2021-11-23 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-08-31 |title=2018 November election warm sms program evaluation |url=https://research.voteamerica.org/2018-sms-message-testing/ |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=VoteAmerica Research Center |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-03-07 |title=2017 Virginia billboard campaign analysis |url=https://research.voteamerica.org/2017-impact-of-billboards-on-turnout-virginia-gubernatorial-election/ |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=VoteAmerica Research Center |language=en}}</ref>


In March 2018, Vote.org launched ElectionDay.org, a campaign that encouraged CEOs of large companies to voluntarily give their employees time off to vote on Election Day.<ref name="time">{{Cite magazine |last=Steinmetz |first=Katy |date=2018-03-12 |title=Should Employers Give You Election Day Off? These Companies Think So |url=http://time.com/5193568/voting-election-day-holiday/ |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511183103/http://time.com/5193568/voting-election-day-holiday/ |archive-date=2018-05-11 |access-date=2018-05-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://citizentruth.org/new-movement-election-day-holiday/ |title=Companies are Signing Up to 'Party Down For Democracy' & Make Election Day a Holiday |first=Lauren |last=von Bernuth |publisher=Citizen Truth |date=2018-05-08 |access-date=2018-05-11}}</ref> As of 2020, over 1000 companies had opted to participate, including [[Twitter]], [[T-Mobile US|T-Mobile]], [[Lyft]], and [[Adidas]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Electionday.org {{!}} Participating Companies|url=https://www.electionday.org/companies|access-date=2021-03-25|website=ELECTIONDAY.ORG|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Kelly |first=Kate |last2=Maheshwari |first2=Sapna |date=2020-10-23 |title=Paid Time Off, Free Fries: How Corporate America Is Getting Out the Vote |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/23/business/corporate-america-voting-time-off.html |access-date=2024-02-01 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
In March 2018, Vote.org launched ElectionDay.org, a campaign that encouraged CEOs of large companies to voluntarily give their employees time off to vote on Election Day.<ref name="time">{{Cite magazine |last=Steinmetz |first=Katy |date=2018-03-12 |title=Should Employers Give You Election Day Off? These Companies Think So |url=https://time.com/5193568/voting-election-day-holiday/ |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511183103/http://time.com/5193568/voting-election-day-holiday/ |archive-date=2018-05-11 |url-status=live |access-date=2018-05-11}}</ref> As of 2020, over 1000 companies had opted to participate, including [[Twitter]], [[T-Mobile US|T-Mobile]], [[Lyft]], and [[Adidas]].<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Kelly |first1=Kate |last2=Maheshwari |first2=Sapna |date=2020-10-23 |title=Paid Time Off, Free Fries: How Corporate America Is Getting Out the Vote |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/23/business/corporate-america-voting-time-off.html |access-date=2024-02-01 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>


⚫
In October 2019, Vote.org purchased billboards in Mississippi with the wrong date.<ref>{{cite web |last=Murphy |first=Paul P. |title=An organization bought billboards to remind voters of Election Day. The signs had the wrong dates. |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/22/politics/election-day-billboard-mixup-trnd/index.html |access-date=24 May 2023 |website=CNN.com|date=22 October 2019 }}</ref>
⚫
In June 2020, Vote.org, [[Alliance for Retired Americans|the Alliance for Retired Americans]], and [[American Civil Liberties Union|the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine]] filed suit against Maine. The lawsuit alleged that Maine's voting systems were inaccessible and out-of-date, thereby creating barriers to voting. The lawsuit highlighted a lack of voter registration options, a lack of prepaid postage on mail-in ballots, ballot collection hurdles, an Election Day receipt deadline, and rejection of absentee ballots that had technical defects.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.popsugar.com/news/voteorg-is-suing-maine-47631286|title = Voting by Mail Should be Easy, and This Organization is Suing to Ensure It is|date = 29 July 2020}}</ref> In September 2020, Superior Court judge William Stokes rejected the lawsuit, citing that the suit took place too close to the actual election and any changes to ballot deadlines would be to the detriment of the state's electoral process and cause disruptions to results. The Alliance of Retired Americans now seek to file an appeal to Maine's [[Maine Supreme Judicial Court|Supreme Judicial Court]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Caitlin Andrews|date=2020-09-30|title=Maine judge turns back lawsuit seeking major 2020 election changes, but appeal likely|url=http://bangordailynews.com/2020/09/30/politics/maine-judge-turns-back-lawsuit-seeking-major-voting-changes-ahead-of-2020-election/|access-date=2021-09-27|website=Bangor Daily News|language=en-US}}</ref>


⚫
In June 2020, Vote.org, [[Alliance for Retired Americans|the Alliance for Retired Americans]], and the [[American Civil Liberties Union]] of Maine filed suit against Maine to extend the deadline of mail-in ballots. The lawsuit alleged that Maine's voting systems were inaccessible and out-of-date, thereby creating barriers to voting. The lawsuit highlighted a lack of voter registration options including no online option, a lack of prepaid postage on mail-in ballots, ballot collection hurdles, an Election Day receipt deadline, and rejection of absentee ballots that had technical defects.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harano |first=Lauren |date=2020-07-28 |title=Voting by Mail Should Be Easy, and This Organization Is Suing to Ensure It Is |url=https://www.popsugar.com/news/voteorg-is-suing-maine-47631286 |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=Popsugar |language=en}}</ref> In September 2020, Superior Court judge William Stokes, citing how soon the election was approaching, did not require changes for the 2020 election.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Andrews |first=Caitlin |date=2020-09-30 |title=Maine judge turns back lawsuit seeking major 2020 election changes, but appeal likely |url=http://bangordailynews.com/2020/09/30/politics/maine-judge-turns-back-lawsuit-seeking-major-voting-changes-ahead-of-2020-election/ |access-date=2021-09-27 |website=[[Bangor Daily News]] |language=en-US}}</ref> In October 2020, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court upheld the trial court finding as the petitioners did not meet their burden of proof.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Healthy Elections Project - Case Details |url=https://healthyelections-case-tracker.stanford.edu/detail?id=52 |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=healthyelections-case-tracker.stanford.edu}}</ref>
In 2020, Vote.org organized food trucks at polling places, and provided free meals to 40,500 voters who were waiting in long lines.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-01-02|title=Making it Count • The Nob Hill Gazette|url=https://nobhillgazette.com/making-it-count/|access-date=2021-09-27|website=The Nob Hill Gazette|language=en-US}}</ref> Vote.org partnered with tech company Propel, developer of the Fresh EBT app, to register 60,000 low-income participants of the [[Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program]] to register to vote before the 2020 election.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|last=Field|first=Anne|title=How Propel And Vote.org Helped Register 60,000 SNAP Beneficiaries To Vote|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/annefield/2020/10/24/how-propel-and-voteorg-helped-register-60000-snap-beneficiaries-to-vote/|access-date=2021-09-27|website=Forbes|language=en}}</ref> 


In 2021, Vote.org advocated for passing the [[For the People Act]], a U.S. bill which expands automatic and same-day voter registration, voter access mail-in and online ballot infrastructure, and new limits on campaign spending.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=HR1, "For the People Act of 2021" |url=https://ballotpedia.org/HR1,_%22For_the_People_Act_of_2021%22 |access-date=2021-09-27 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en}}</ref> [[Fair Fight Action]], [[When We All Vote]], the [[Declaration for American Democracy]], and Vote.org drafted a letter which was signed by 90 corporations; the letter urged Congress to pass the [[For the People Act]].<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |title=Stacey Abrams, Michelle Obama urge voters to join the fight to protect access to the ballot |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/08/05/stacey-abrams-michelle-obama-urge-voters-join-fight-protect-access-ballot/ |access-date=2021-09-27 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> On March 3, 2021, the [[United States House of Representatives]] approved the For the People Act with a 220–210 vote. On June 22, the [[United States Senate|Senate]] voted 50–50 to continue debate on the bill, which means the act did not pass.<ref name=":4" /> Vote.org also worked with [[Fair Fight Action]] and [[When We All Vote]] to oppose changes in Georgia's voter ID laws.<ref name=":5" />
In 2021, Vote.org advocated for passing the [[For the People Act]], a U.S. bill which expands automatic and same-day voter registration, voter access mail-in and online ballot infrastructure, and new limits on campaign spending.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=HR1, "For the People Act of 2021" |url=https://ballotpedia.org/HR1,_%22For_the_People_Act_of_2021%22 |access-date=2021-09-27 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite news |last=Williams |first=Vanessa |date=August 5, 2021 |title=Stacey Abrams, Michelle Obama urge voters to join the fight to protect access to the ballot |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/08/05/stacey-abrams-michelle-obama-urge-voters-join-fight-protect-access-ballot/ |access-date=2021-09-27 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> Vote.org worked with [[Fair Fight Action]] and [[When We All Vote]] to on For the People Act as well as to oppose changes in Georgia's voter ID laws.<ref name=":5" />


Also in 2021, Vote.org partnered with [[The CW Network|the CW network]] and the [[Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law|Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights]] under law to launch the Freedom to Vote nonpartisan initiative, which aimed to increase content promoting voter registration and civic participation on a number of different platforms.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last1=Crawford |first1=Lacy Jr. |date=2021-08-06 |title=Lawyers' Committee Partners with The CW and Vote.org to Launch New Nonpartisan Initiative to Protect the Freedom to Vote |url=https://www.lawyerscommittee.org/lawyers-committee-partners-with-the-cw-and-vote-org-to-launch-new-nonpartisan-initiative-to-protect-the-freedom-to-vote/ |access-date=2021-11-23 |website=Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law |language=en-US}}</ref> This is an expansion of the CW's and Vote.org previous Vote Actually campaign in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tapp |first=Tom |date=2020-09-09 |title=CW Announces New Initiative, CW Vote Actually, To Encourage Viewers To Make Their Voices Heard In 2020 |url=https://deadline.com/2020/09/cw-announces-new-initiative-cw-vote-actually-to-encourage-viewers-to-make-their-voices-heard-in-2020-1234574255/ |access-date=2021-11-23 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>
Also in 2021, Vote.org partnered with [[The CW Network|the CW network]] and the [[Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law|Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights]] under law to launch the Freedom to Vote nonpartisan initiative, which aimed to increase content promoting voter registration and civic participation on a number of different platforms.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last1=Crawford |first1=Lacy Jr. |date=2021-08-06 |title=Lawyers' Committee Partners with The CW and Vote.org to Launch New Nonpartisan Initiative to Protect the Freedom to Vote |url=https://www.lawyerscommittee.org/lawyers-committee-partners-with-the-cw-and-vote-org-to-launch-new-nonpartisan-initiative-to-protect-the-freedom-to-vote/ |access-date=2021-11-23 |website=Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law |language=en-US}}</ref> This is an expansion of the CW's and Vote.org previous Vote Actually campaign in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tapp |first=Tom |date=2020-09-09 |title=CW Announces New Initiative, CW Vote Actually, To Encourage Viewers To Make Their Voices Heard In 2020 |url=https://deadline.com/2020/09/cw-announces-new-initiative-cw-vote-actually-to-encourage-viewers-to-make-their-voices-heard-in-2020-1234574255/ |access-date=2021-11-23 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>


In 2023, the DOJ filed a statement of interest in a lawsuit challenging a Florida voter registration law that mandates people to sign their name with a wet signature, with physical pen and paper. Voting advocacy groups Vote.org, the Florida Alliance for Retired Americans and the Florida State Conference of the [[NAACP]] filed the lawsuit against Florida Secretary of State [[Cord Byrd]] and other state election officials.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-04 |title=Civil Rights Division {{!}} Vote.org v. Byrd {{!}} United States Department of Justice |url=https://www.justice.gov/crt/case/voteorg-v-byrd |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=www.justice.gov |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Case 4:23-cv-00111-AW-MAF |url=https://www.justice.gov/d9/2023-08/statement_of_interest-_vote.org_v_byrd.pdf |website=justice.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-16 |title=🚨 New filing in Vote.org v. Byrd |url=https://www.democracydocket.com/cases/florida-wet-signature-challenge/ |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=Democracy Docket |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Fineout |first=Gary |last2=Leonard |first2=Kimberly |date=2023-07-25 |title=Florida loses bid to lock DOJ out of voting case |url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/florida-playbook/2023/07/25/florida-loses-bid-to-lock-doj-out-of-voting-case-00107957 |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=POLITICO |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-17 |title=Florida officials hit with federal suit over signature rule for prospective voters |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/florida-officials-hit-federal-suit-signature-rule-prospective-voters-rcna75424 |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Vigdor |first=Neil |date=2023-03-16 |title=Florida Faces Federal Lawsuit Over Signature Rules for New Voters |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/16/us/politics/florida-lawsuit-voter-registration.html |access-date=2023-11-19 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
In 2023, the DOJ filed a statement of interest in a lawsuit challenging a Florida voter registration law that mandates people to sign their name with a wet signature, with physical pen and paper. Voting advocacy groups Vote.org, the Florida Alliance for Retired Americans and the Florida State Conference of the [[NAACP]] filed the lawsuit against Florida Secretary of State [[Cord Byrd]] and other state election officials.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Fineout |first1=Gary |last2=Leonard |first2=Kimberly |date=2023-07-25 |title=Florida loses bid to lock DOJ out of voting case |url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/florida-playbook/2023/07/25/florida-loses-bid-to-lock-doj-out-of-voting-case-00107957 |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=POLITICO |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-17 |title=Florida officials hit with federal suit over signature rule for prospective voters |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/florida-officials-hit-federal-suit-signature-rule-prospective-voters-rcna75424 |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Vigdor |first=Neil |date=2023-03-16 |title=Florida Faces Federal Lawsuit Over Signature Rules for New Voters |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/16/us/politics/florida-lawsuit-voter-registration.html |access-date=2023-11-19 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>


In September 2023, [[Taylor Swift]] posted an Instagram message asking her 272 million followers to register to vote and linking to Vote.org. Vote.org reported more than 35,000 applications submitted on [[National Voter Registration Day]], due in part to Swift’s superstar influence.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sullivan |first=Becky |date=September 22, 2023 |title=A Taylor Swift Instagram post helped drive a surge in voter registration |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/09/22/1201183160/taylor-swift-instagram-voter-registration |website=NPR}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Taylor Swift told fans to register to vote -- then Vote.org got 35K new voter registrations |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/taylor-swift-told-fans-register-vote-vote-35k/story?id=103379385 |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=ABC News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CxgmpUlMFnM/ |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=www.instagram.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Chan |first=Anna |date=2023-11-07 |title=Taylor Swift Reminds Fans to Vote on Election Day: ‘It’s Time to Use Your Voice’ |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/taylor-swift-vote-election-day-reminds-fans-1235465273/ |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-21 |title=Traffic surged 1,226% on Vote.org after Taylor Swift urged fans to register to vote |url=https://www.livenowfox.com/news/taylor-swift-urged-fans-register-to-vote-website-traffic-surged |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=FOX TV Stations |language=en-US}}</ref> For the partnership, Vote.org and Swift were awarded a [[Webby Awards|Webby Award]] for Best Creator or Influencer Collaboration, Features (Social) in 2024.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://deadline.com/2024/04/2024-webby-awards-winners-list-1235892208/ |title=Webby Awards Winners List: Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, Ryan Gosling, Keke Palmer, Shannon Sharpe & Julia Louis-Dreyfus Among Honored |last=Tinoco |first=Armando |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=April 23, 2024 |access-date=April 24, 2024}}</ref>
In September 2023, [[Taylor Swift]] posted an Instagram message asking her 272 million followers to register to vote and linking to Vote.org. Vote.org reported more than 35,000 applications submitted on [[National Voter Registration Day]], due in part to Swift's superstar influence.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sullivan |first=Becky |date=September 22, 2023 |title=A Taylor Swift Instagram post helped drive a surge in voter registration |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/09/22/1201183160/taylor-swift-instagram-voter-registration |website=NPR}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Taylor Swift told fans to register to vote -- then Vote.org got 35K new voter registrations |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/taylor-swift-told-fans-register-vote-vote-35k/story?id=103379385 |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=ABC News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CxgmpUlMFnM/ |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=www.instagram.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Chan |first=Anna |date=2023-11-07 |title=Taylor Swift Reminds Fans to Vote on Election Day: 'It's Time to Use Your Voice' |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/taylor-swift-vote-election-day-reminds-fans-1235465273/ |access-date=2023-11-19 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-21 |title=Traffic surged 1,226% on Vote.org after Taylor Swift urged fans to register to vote |url=https://www.livenowfox.com/news/taylor-swift-urged-fans-register-to-vote-website-traffic-surged |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=FOX TV Stations |language=en-US}}</ref> For the partnership, Vote.org and Swift were awarded a [[Webby Awards|Webby Award]] for Best Creator or Influencer Collaboration, Features (Social) in 2024.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |url=https://deadline.com/2024/04/2024-webby-awards-winners-list-1235892208/ |title=Webby Awards Winners List: Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, Ryan Gosling, Keke Palmer, Shannon Sharpe & Julia Louis-Dreyfus Among Honored |last=Tinoco |first=Armando |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=April 23, 2024 |access-date=April 24, 2024}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Nordyke |first=Kimberly |date=2024-04-23 |title=Taylor Swift Beats Travis Kelce at Webby Awards; Olivia Rodrigo, Timothée Chalamet Also Among Winners |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/2024-webby-awards-winners-taylor-swift-travis-kelce-olivia-rodrigo-1235878929/ |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Spangler |first=Todd |date=2024-04-23 |title=Variety's 'Actors on Actors' Wins Two 2024 Webby Awards |url=https://variety.com/2024/digital/news/2024-webby-awards-variety-actors-on-actors-1235978016/ |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>


For 2024, Vote.org has a goal of registering 8 million voters, having registered 500,000 as of April 19, 2024.<ref name="Mueller"/>
⚫
In July 2024, Vote.org helped to register more than 100,000 voters in a single week. Nearly 85% of the new voters registering on Vote.org are under 35 and 18-year-old voters alone make up 18%. Vote.org has an over an 80% conversion rate from registration to the ballot box.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Weintraub |first=Karen |title=The election just got a lot more interesting. It's inspiring young voters to register. |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/07/26/young-voter-registration-skyrockets-harris/74556135007/ |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}</ref>


⚫
In July 2024, Vote.org helped to register more than 100,000 voters in the five days after [[Joe Biden]] [[Withdrawal of Joe Biden from the 2024 United States presidential election|dropped out]]. Nearly 85% of the new voters registering on Vote.org are under 35 and 18-year-old voters alone make up 18%. Vote.org has an over an 80% conversion rate from registration to the ballot box.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Weintraub |first=Karen |date=July 26, 2024 |title=The election just got a lot more interesting. It's inspiring young voters to register. |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/07/26/young-voter-registration-skyrockets-harris/74556135007/ |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Controversies ==
⚫
In the summer of 2019, the organization's board terminated founder and CEO [[Debra Cleaver]], citing "differences in opinion".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Debra Cleaver, Founder Of Vote.org, Is Making Women's History Now|url=https://www.bustle.com/p/debra-cleaver-founder-of-voteorg-is-making-womens-history-now-42771|access-date=2021-09-27|website=Bustle|language=en}}</ref> This resulted in losses in funding, including $4 million of promised funding from [[Sage Weil]].<ref name=":22">{{Cite web |last=Schleifer |first=Theodore |date=2020-04-28 |title=One of America's key voting rights groups plunged into chaos when it was needed most |url=https://www.vox.com/recode/2020/4/28/21239380/vote-org-debra-cleaver-silicon-valley-fight-absentee-mail-voting-coronavirus |access-date=2021-09-27 |website=Vox |language=en}}</ref> Cleaver was replaced by board member Andrea Hailey.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-11-04 |title=Vote.org CEO Andrea Hailey on the Issues Voters Care Most About This Midterm Election |url=https://www.glamour.com/story/andrea-hailey-vote-org-midterms |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=Glamour |language=en-US}}</ref>


== Organization ==
⚫
In October 2019, Vote.org purchased billboards in Mississippi to encourage turnout in an upcoming election. The billboards had the wrong date.<ref>{{cite web |title=An organization bought billboards to remind voters of Election Day. The signs had the wrong dates. |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/22/politics/election-day-billboard-mixup-trnd/index.html |website=CNN.com |access-date=24 May 2023}}</ref>
⚫
In the summer of 2019, the organization's board terminated founder and CEO [[Debra Cleaver]], citing "differences in opinion".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Debra Cleaver, Founder Of Vote.org, Is Making Women's History Now |url=https://www.bustle.com/p/debra-cleaver-founder-of-voteorg-is-making-womens-history-now-42771 |access-date=2021-09-27 |website=[[Bustle (magazine)|Bustle]] |language=en}}</ref> This resulted in losses in funding from some donors loyal to Cleaver.<ref name=":22">{{Cite web |last=Schleifer |first=Theodore |date=2020-04-28 |title=One of America's key voting rights groups plunged into chaos when it was needed most |url=https://www.vox.com/recode/2020/4/28/21239380/vote-org-debra-cleaver-silicon-valley-fight-absentee-mail-voting-coronavirus |access-date=2021-09-27 |website=Vox |language=en}}</ref> Cleaver was replaced by board member Andrea Hailey,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-11-04 |title=Vote.org CEO Andrea Hailey on the Issues Voters Care Most About This Midterm Election |url=https://www.glamour.com/story/andrea-hailey-vote-org-midterms |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=[[Glamour (magazine)|Glamour]] |language=en-US}}</ref> and filed a wrongful termination lawsuit in August 2022.<ref>{{cite web |last=Cortellessa |first=Eric |date=August 18, 2022 |title=Vote.org, an Influential Voting Rights Group, Faces a Lawsuit by its Founder |url=https://time.com/6207319/vote-org-lawsuit-founder-voting-rights/ |access-date=24 May 2023 |website=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]}}</ref>{{Update inline|date=July 2024}}


In May 2024, an investigative article in ''[[The Chronicle of Philanthropy]]'', detailed ongoing issues at Vote.org including regulatory and compliance failures and an ongoing lawsuit for disability discrimination.<ref>{{cite web |last=Rendon |first=Jim |date=May 9, 2024 |title=Turmoil at Vote.org |url=https://www.philanthropy.com/article/turmoil-at-vote-org |website=[[Chronicle of Philanthropy]]}}</ref>
Founder Debra Cleaver filed a lawsuit against Vote.org in August 2022 alleging wrongful termination and a misappropriation of charitable funds.<ref>{{cite web |title=Vote.org, an Influential Voting Rights Group, Faces a Lawsuit by its Founder |url=https://time.com/6207319/vote-org-lawsuit-founder-voting-rights/ |website=Time.com |access-date=24 May 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Admin |date=2022-08-22 |title=Vote.org-Voting Rights Organization, Is Being Sued By Its Founder! |url=https://expertlegalreview.com/vote-org-is-being-sued-by-its-founder/ |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=Expert Legal Review |language=en-US}}</ref>


== Awards ==
In May 2024, an investigative article in [[The Chronicle of Philanthropy]], detailed a litany of ongoing issues at Vote.org including regulatory and compliance failures such as fundraising in states without a valid registration including New York in 2019 until November 2021 as required by New York State Law.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fund Raising Professional Registration |url=https://nyc-business.nyc.gov/nycbusiness/description/professional-fund-raiser |website=NYC-Business.NYC.gov}}</ref> Questionable financial decisions have also been uncovered such as tax forms signed by a contractor, donations which were not recorded in financial statements according to an official audit of Vote.org in July 2021, and an ongoing lawsuit for disability discrimination.<ref>{{cite web |title=Turmoil at Vote.org |url=https://www.philanthropy.com/article/turmoil-at-vote-org |website=Philanthropy.com}}</ref>

=== Anthem Award ===
2024 - Taylor Swift and Vote.org for Human & Civil Rights - Best Influencer Collaboration, Awareness & Media Categories<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schneider |first=Michael |date=2024-01-30 |title=Taylor Swift, Elton John AIDS Foundation, 'The Daily Show With Trevor Noah' Among This Year's Anthem Awards Honorees (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/taylor-swift-elton-john-aids-foundation-daily-show-anthem-awards-honorees-1235891292/ |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Webby Award ===
2024 - Taylor Swift and Vote.org for Best Creator or Influencer Collaboration, Features (Social) in 2024.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":6" />

== See also ==

* [[Civic technology]]
* [[VoteRiders]]


== References ==
== References ==
Line 44: Line 58:
==External links==
==External links==
* {{official website|www.vote.org}}
* {{official website|www.vote.org}}
*[https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/262094990 Charity Navigator Profile]
*[https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/262094990 Profile] on [[Charity Navigator]]


[[Category:501(c)(3) organizations]]
[[Category:501(c)(3) organizations]]

Latest revision as of 12:07, 17 November 2024

Vote.org
Formation2008
Type501(c)(3) nonprofit
PurposeVoter registration
Get out the vote
WebsiteOfficial website Edit this at Wikidata

Vote.org, formerly Long Distance Voter, is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that is based in the United States.[1][2] It provides online voter guides for every state, including voter registration forms, absentee ballot applications, and information on deadlines, directions, and ID and residency requirements.[3] The organization is best known for large-scale voter registration programs, registering 4 million voters in the 2020 election cycle alone.[4]

History

[edit]

Vote.org was founded by Debra Cleaver in 2008. The organization was named Long Distance Voter at the time, and sought to increase voter turnout by providing greater access to absentee voting information online.[5][6] The organization was volunteer-run and did not have any full-time staff from 2008 to 2016. Cleaver became the first full-time employee in January 2016.

Long Distance Voter relaunched as Vote.org in April 2016, and was accepted into Y Combinator in June 2016. The mission was updated to reflect a new goal of 100% voter turnout.[6][7][8] During the Y Combinator demo day, Cleaver pitched the then-novel use of unsolicited text messages as a way of registering voters.[9] In Fall 2016, Vote.org worked with Hustle to run a nationwide SMS peer-to-peer voter registration program in which they sent millions of text messages to unregistered voters. The program was then expanded to include polling place location information for registered voters. A quantitative evaluation of this program found that these messages increased turnout by 0.2 percentage points.[10] Since then, Vote.org has run many experiments, primarily using randomized controlled trials (RCTs) measuring the effectiveness of voter turnout tactics and messaging.[11][12][13]

In March 2018, Vote.org launched ElectionDay.org, a campaign that encouraged CEOs of large companies to voluntarily give their employees time off to vote on Election Day.[14] As of 2020, over 1000 companies had opted to participate, including Twitter, T-Mobile, Lyft, and Adidas.[15]

In October 2019, Vote.org purchased billboards in Mississippi with the wrong date.[16]

In June 2020, Vote.org, the Alliance for Retired Americans, and the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine filed suit against Maine to extend the deadline of mail-in ballots. The lawsuit alleged that Maine's voting systems were inaccessible and out-of-date, thereby creating barriers to voting. The lawsuit highlighted a lack of voter registration options including no online option, a lack of prepaid postage on mail-in ballots, ballot collection hurdles, an Election Day receipt deadline, and rejection of absentee ballots that had technical defects.[17] In September 2020, Superior Court judge William Stokes, citing how soon the election was approaching, did not require changes for the 2020 election.[18] In October 2020, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court upheld the trial court finding as the petitioners did not meet their burden of proof.[19]

In 2021, Vote.org advocated for passing the For the People Act, a U.S. bill which expands automatic and same-day voter registration, voter access mail-in and online ballot infrastructure, and new limits on campaign spending.[20][21] Vote.org worked with Fair Fight Action and When We All Vote to on For the People Act as well as to oppose changes in Georgia's voter ID laws.[21]

Also in 2021, Vote.org partnered with the CW network and the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights under law to launch the Freedom to Vote nonpartisan initiative, which aimed to increase content promoting voter registration and civic participation on a number of different platforms.[22] This is an expansion of the CW's and Vote.org previous Vote Actually campaign in 2020.[23]

In 2023, the DOJ filed a statement of interest in a lawsuit challenging a Florida voter registration law that mandates people to sign their name with a wet signature, with physical pen and paper. Voting advocacy groups Vote.org, the Florida Alliance for Retired Americans and the Florida State Conference of the NAACP filed the lawsuit against Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd and other state election officials.[24][25][26]

In September 2023, Taylor Swift posted an Instagram message asking her 272 million followers to register to vote and linking to Vote.org. Vote.org reported more than 35,000 applications submitted on National Voter Registration Day, due in part to Swift's superstar influence.[27][28][29][30][31] For the partnership, Vote.org and Swift were awarded a Webby Award for Best Creator or Influencer Collaboration, Features (Social) in 2024.[32][33][34]

For 2024, Vote.org has a goal of registering 8 million voters, having registered 500,000 as of April 19, 2024.[2]

In July 2024, Vote.org helped to register more than 100,000 voters in the five days after Joe Biden dropped out. Nearly 85% of the new voters registering on Vote.org are under 35 and 18-year-old voters alone make up 18%. Vote.org has an over an 80% conversion rate from registration to the ballot box.[35]

Organization

[edit]

In the summer of 2019, the organization's board terminated founder and CEO Debra Cleaver, citing "differences in opinion".[36] This resulted in losses in funding from some donors loyal to Cleaver.[37] Cleaver was replaced by board member Andrea Hailey,[38] and filed a wrongful termination lawsuit in August 2022.[39][needs update]

In May 2024, an investigative article in The Chronicle of Philanthropy, detailed ongoing issues at Vote.org including regulatory and compliance failures and an ongoing lawsuit for disability discrimination.[40]

Awards

[edit]

Anthem Award

[edit]

2024 - Taylor Swift and Vote.org for Human & Civil Rights - Best Influencer Collaboration, Awareness & Media Categories[41]

Webby Award

[edit]

2024 - Taylor Swift and Vote.org for Best Creator or Influencer Collaboration, Features (Social) in 2024.[32][33][34]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Hughes, Trevor. "Why do celebrities endorse politicians? Because it can sway votes". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  2. ^ a b Mueller, Julia (2024-04-19). "Vote.org planning its largest voter-registration campaign ever". The Hill. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  3. ^ Thorpe, JR (2017-03-07). "Debra Cleaver, Founder Of Vote.org, Is Making Women's History Now". Bustle. Retrieved 2018-05-11.
  4. ^ Dress, Brad (September 6, 2022). "Vote.org unveils $10M campaign to register young Americans".
  5. ^ "Long Distance Voter Goes the Distance". Teen Vogue. 2008-10-24. Archived from the original on 2018-05-11. Retrieved 2018-05-11.
  6. ^ a b Vetter, Moira (2016-05-13). "What Can Non-Profit Startup Vote.org Do With Y Combinator Seed Funding In 178 Days?". Forbes.com. Retrieved 2018-05-11.
  7. ^ "Vote.org is a non-profit that wants to get the U.S. to 100% voter turnout". Y Combinator. 2016-05-17. Retrieved 2018-05-11.
  8. ^ Fitts, Alexis Sobel (2016-11-06). "This Y Combinator-backed company wants to redesign the voting process for the digital age". Business Insider. Retrieved 2018-05-11.
  9. ^ Fitts, Alexis Sobel (November 2, 2016). "This Y Combinator-Backed Company Has a Secret Weapon to Sway Elections". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
  10. ^ "VOTE.org + Hustle: Voter Registration GOTV peer-to-peer texting". Shorty Awards. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  11. ^ "Vote.org Research". 2020-01-29. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  12. ^ "2018 November election warm sms program evaluation". VoteAmerica Research Center. 2019-08-31. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  13. ^ "2017 Virginia billboard campaign analysis". VoteAmerica Research Center. 2018-03-07. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  14. ^ Steinmetz, Katy (2018-03-12). "Should Employers Give You Election Day Off? These Companies Think So". Time. Archived from the original on 2018-05-11. Retrieved 2018-05-11.
  15. ^ Kelly, Kate; Maheshwari, Sapna (2020-10-23). "Paid Time Off, Free Fries: How Corporate America Is Getting Out the Vote". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
  16. ^ Murphy, Paul P. (22 October 2019). "An organization bought billboards to remind voters of Election Day. The signs had the wrong dates". CNN.com. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  17. ^ Harano, Lauren (2020-07-28). "Voting by Mail Should Be Easy, and This Organization Is Suing to Ensure It Is". Popsugar. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  18. ^ Andrews, Caitlin (2020-09-30). "Maine judge turns back lawsuit seeking major 2020 election changes, but appeal likely". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  19. ^ "Healthy Elections Project - Case Details". healthyelections-case-tracker.stanford.edu. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  20. ^ "HR1, "For the People Act of 2021"". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  21. ^ a b Williams, Vanessa (August 5, 2021). "Stacey Abrams, Michelle Obama urge voters to join the fight to protect access to the ballot". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  22. ^ Crawford, Lacy Jr. (2021-08-06). "Lawyers' Committee Partners with The CW and Vote.org to Launch New Nonpartisan Initiative to Protect the Freedom to Vote". Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  23. ^ Tapp, Tom (2020-09-09). "CW Announces New Initiative, CW Vote Actually, To Encourage Viewers To Make Their Voices Heard In 2020". Deadline. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  24. ^ Fineout, Gary; Leonard, Kimberly (2023-07-25). "Florida loses bid to lock DOJ out of voting case". POLITICO. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  25. ^ "Florida officials hit with federal suit over signature rule for prospective voters". NBC News. 2023-03-17. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  26. ^ Vigdor, Neil (2023-03-16). "Florida Faces Federal Lawsuit Over Signature Rules for New Voters". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  27. ^ Sullivan, Becky (September 22, 2023). "A Taylor Swift Instagram post helped drive a surge in voter registration". NPR.
  28. ^ "Taylor Swift told fans to register to vote -- then Vote.org got 35K new voter registrations". ABC News. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  29. ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  30. ^ Chan, Anna (2023-11-07). "Taylor Swift Reminds Fans to Vote on Election Day: 'It's Time to Use Your Voice'". Billboard. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  31. ^ "Traffic surged 1,226% on Vote.org after Taylor Swift urged fans to register to vote". FOX TV Stations. 2023-09-21. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  32. ^ a b Tinoco, Armando (April 23, 2024). "Webby Awards Winners List: Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, Ryan Gosling, Keke Palmer, Shannon Sharpe & Julia Louis-Dreyfus Among Honored". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  33. ^ a b Nordyke, Kimberly (2024-04-23). "Taylor Swift Beats Travis Kelce at Webby Awards; Olivia Rodrigo, Timothée Chalamet Also Among Winners". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  34. ^ a b Spangler, Todd (2024-04-23). "Variety's 'Actors on Actors' Wins Two 2024 Webby Awards". Variety. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  35. ^ Weintraub, Karen (July 26, 2024). "The election just got a lot more interesting. It's inspiring young voters to register". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  36. ^ "Debra Cleaver, Founder Of Vote.org, Is Making Women's History Now". Bustle. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  37. ^ Schleifer, Theodore (2020-04-28). "One of America's key voting rights groups plunged into chaos when it was needed most". Vox. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  38. ^ "Vote.org CEO Andrea Hailey on the Issues Voters Care Most About This Midterm Election". Glamour. 2022-11-04. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  39. ^ Cortellessa, Eric (August 18, 2022). "Vote.org, an Influential Voting Rights Group, Faces a Lawsuit by its Founder". Time. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  40. ^ Rendon, Jim (May 9, 2024). "Turmoil at Vote.org". Chronicle of Philanthropy.
  41. ^ Schneider, Michael (2024-01-30). "Taylor Swift, Elton John AIDS Foundation, 'The Daily Show With Trevor Noah' Among This Year's Anthem Awards Honorees (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
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