February 2012
13 posts
Are You Concerned About Super PACs?
The New Haven Register has an editorial today calling attention to the issue of Super PACs and calling for public hearings on the issue of unregulated spending by special interests in elections. What do you think?
Voter ID Laws Target the Most Vulnerable -... →
2011 was a historic year for people across the world wanting more access to a democratic and open political process. Movements such as the Arab Spring inspired people to take action and have a say in their political future, and the Occupy Wall Street movement is a manifestation of that desire here in the United States. Yet instead of making it easier for U.S. citizens to participate in our...
Voting Matters Blog: voting rights still under... →
The first month of this election year has already seen a concerted and coordinated movement to roll back voting rights across the country. In January 2012, more than a dozen states have introduced legislation that would make it harder for eligible Americans to register, vote, and cast ballots that count. Bills that require photo voter ID, demand proof-of-citizenship documentation, and implement...
2011 Connecticut Civic Health Index
“The first of its kind in Connecticut, this report documents the state’s civic health. It looks at key indicators of civic life in Connecticut: how Connecticut residents engage in civic organizations and group activities, how attentive they are to community problem solving and politics and how connected they are to family, friends and neighbors.” Find out more.
Do You Know About Public Financing of Elections in...
New Haven’s public campaign finance oversight body, the New Haven Democracy Fund, is looking for new members to support its mission of clean elections!
The New Haven Democracy Fund, utilizing appropriations from the Board of Aldermen and citizens’ contributions, provides public matching funds and public financing grants to mayoral candidates who voluntarily agree to abide by certain...
Racial Equity Tools: Political Representation and... →
The United States has a long and well documented history of disenfranchising people of color politically, first by denying them the right to vote entirely, and then later through a system of public policies (i.e., Jim Crow, Voter ID laws), widespread voter intimidation, and purging registered voters from the rolls. While the tactics may have changed, voter participation rates among communities of...
Pew Center Report: America's Voter Registration...
“Voter registration in the United States largely reflects its 19th-century origins and has not kept pace with advancing technology and a mobile society. States’ systems must be brought into the 21st century to be more accurate, cost-effective, and efficient.” Read more.
The Role of the Media in Civic Engagement
We are happy to announce a new partnership with the New Haven Register in promoting voter participation and civic engagement in New Haven. We think the media has a critical role to play in shaping and sustaining civic engagement. Check out Register Community Engagement Editor Angi Carter’s story on our collaboration.
Reminder to Register for April 24 Presidential...
If you intend to vote in the April 24, 2012 presidential primary, your mail-in registration must be postmarked by the 5th day before the primary (April 19), or you can apply in person until noon on the last business day (Monday, April 23) before the primary. Absentee ballots can be requested beginning on the 21st day before the primary. More info here.
Civility and American Democracy: A National Forum
“What happened to civility in America? Did it disappear? Did it ever truly exist? On February 17th, 2012, a group of leading scholars and journalists—including Ellen Goodman, Joe Klein, Randall Kennedy and Jill Lepore—will gather to discuss those questions and more about the role civility plays in American politics.” Find out more.
The Case For Voter Registration in 2012 and Beyond
A new report from the New Organizing Institute analyzes Census data and assesses the actions needed to address the persistent under-registration and underrepresentation of minority populations in electoral politics. The report finds that in 2018, an increasingly diverse minority population — what the report calls the “Emerging Majority” — will comprise a majority of the...
Welcome To Our New Blog!
We promise to keep updating it if you promise to keep visiting! The New Haven Votes Coalition is a group of citizens and nonprofits interested in promoting voter participation and civic engagement in New Haven.
