As part of a group that hears reports from national Democratic organizers every few weeks, i was particularly taken with a presentation a few weeks ago by a group at Stanford called Mind The Gap that has analyzed more data about registration/voting patterns than seems possible. And their conclusion – to be brief – is that from now until a few months before the 2020 election, support for non-partisan registration in key neighborhoods in key states will do more for the Democrats from top to bottom of the ticket than any other donation.

How is that possible? The Democrats need numbers. Not just the 75,000 or so more votes that would have changed the last election, but possibly up to a million new voters because lots of people seem to be energized by national politics right now, and Republican turnout is expected to hit new highs.

Registration-seeking organizations that set up in neighborhoods where there are large numbers of non-registered but presumed Democratic-leaning folks, that are manned by people who look like their neighbors (not like you and me) are proven to be the most effective way to encourage new registrants. And here is the insight from Mind the Gap: It doesn’t matter if some of them sign up as Republicans!  The numbers will be overwhelmingly Democratic, and once they’ve registered, other organizations can follow up to see that they vote. That follow-up is important, but not until much closer to the election.

One of the best groups that are set up to do this kind of community-based registration is called the Voter Participation Center. Based in DC, but actively working with local groups across the country.

I’ve just sent them all the money I was planning to send to various candidates in 2019. I urge you to go to their website: www.voterparticipation.org and send what you can. And, remember, because they are non-partisan, your donation is tax-deductible!

Thanks for considering this.

Best, Marilyn (forwarded by Alice Tepper Marlin)