Voter turnout is much lower in the U.S. than in many other democracies around the world. In this episode, we look at an innovative initiative to use the internet to boost the number of voters in every election.
"Our mission" says the non-profit group Democracy Works "is to make voting a simple, seamless experience for all Americans, so that no one misses an election."
A lot of people want to vote but they forget to do it, or they don't get registered to vote. Democracy Works is a team of software developers, policy wonks and civic organizers who say they are working to upgrade the infrastructure of democracy.
In this episode, we speak with the non-profit group's CEO and co-founder. Seth Flaxman. "At the end of the day, we think every American is going to want a sort of service like a concierge helping them to vote in all the election," says Seth, "even people who say they never miss elections sign up to get the reminders."
This episode is funded with a grant from Solutions Journalism Network as part of "Renewing Democracy", to encourage reporting about how people and institutions are trying to reinvigorate democracy in communities across the country.
Democracy Works is affiliated with Bridge Alliance, a coalition of over 90 organizations dedicated to U.S. revitalization. With each organization focusing on a different sector of the movement, its members represent a combined three million supporters in the burgeoning field of civic reform and civil discourse