SEPTEMBER 2023

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📜 ICYMI: Rep. Nikema Williams (D-GA) introduced the Youth Voting Rights Act in August. This legislation is intended to empower young people to participate in our elections. 

This bill would expand no excuse vote-by-mail programs, require campuses to have on campus polling sites, allow pre-registration for 16- and 17-year-olds in every state and other common sense measures to make it easier for young Americans to register to vote and cast our ballots. Many of these measures are extensions of pro-voter policies adopted by several states.

At Common Cause, we believe that we must fulfill the promise of the 26th Amendment and remove barriers so that young people can let our voices be heard. That’s why we’re building a movement to get this bill passed, but we need your help. Please contact your representative and let them know we need to pass the Youth Voting Rights Act NOW.

👫 In 1971, Common Cause played a leading role in passing the 26th Amendment, which lowered the national voting age from 21 to 18. Today, we're joining young people across the country to lower it again to 16.

We’ve seen young people ignite movements on social media and fight for a better future for everyone. Despite being directly impacted by major policy decisions, their lack of political power means they are sometimes ignored. Lowering the voting age will help young people successfully push for change like affordable college, a healthier environment and a multi-racial democracy. 

Six cities in the United States have already lowered the voting age to 16 for some or all elections, resulting in voter turnout increases with no discernable negative consequences. This fall, Common Cause is working to lower the voting age in Rockville, Maryland and in New Jersey cities. Answer our poll below: Do you believe we should lower the voting age?

📵 With foreign actors, online trolls, and partisan activists spreading false info online and social media companies scaling back their efforts to protect the people, fighting disinformation has never been more important. That’s why Common Cause released its newest disinfo report.

The report — “Under the Microscope: Election Disinformation in 2022 and What We Learned for 2024” — examines the disinfo tactics used during the midterms, what we learned, and how to prepare for the upcoming 2024 races. The 2022 midterm cycle saw disinfo spreaders target Black and Latino voters, utilize AI content under false pretenses, and team up with social media “influencers” who used voter suppression language to raise vast amounts of money.

This upcoming cycle will show some of the same tactics, but there are ways we can prevent disinformation from spreading. Learn how to stop your grandparents from spreading disinfo on Facebook, and sign up to become an Election Protection volunteer.

Rondez Green graduated this May with a Bachelors of Science in History and Government from Bowie State University.

While at Bowie, he was a member of the History Honor Society, Pre-Law Society, was a legislative assistant and worked as a Common Cause Maryland Democracy Fellow. During his time as a fellow, he hosted virtual pandemic events that focused on student mental health, advocacy and professional opportunities at the Maryland General Assembly, cannabis legalization, and Anton’s Law. As part of his fellowship, he wrote two op-eds, one which was published in the Afro.

We are excited to see all that Rondez will accomplish in the future!

We're working so hard across the country, we could write you a novel instead of a newsletter. So instead, here are a few more quick headlines we don't want you to miss: 

• Rhode Island ⚓: Gabe Amo made history this month when he won the Democratic primary for RI-01 congressional seat. If he wins, he’ll be the first person of color to represent the state in Congress.

• North Carolina ✈: CCNC joined forces with the North Carolina Black Alliance to host an HBCU Think Tank, which brought student leaders from NC HBCUs together to educate them on issues impacting the Black community. Check out this video featuring the event.

• National 🦅: We want to learn more about you and your priorities as we strategize the next few months. Fill out this survey to help us build the next generation of changemakers!

In several states across the country — including Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey and Virginia — numerous state level positions are on the ballot this fall. From gubernatorial races to races for state legislature and state Supreme Courts, these roles will determine the future of voting rights, reproductive health care, climate and more. Make sure you have a plan to vote and head to the polls this cycle! 🗳

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