Encouraging full participation in democratic processes, civic life, and issues of public concern as a societal right and responsibility.
Why this is important:
- Only 68.3% of eligible votes in Pennsylvania voted in the 2018 election, with only 41.2% of eligible Hispanic voters and 62.9% of Black voters participating (Census Voting and Registration Data, 2018).
- In the June 2nd primary, there was higher voter turnout than expected, yet only 42% of those eligible to vote cast a ballot (Martin, 2020).
- As the pandemic makes it likely many will vote via mail-in-ballot, we need to ensure people know key dates to ensure they are able to vote (e.g.-- the deadline to register for a mail-in-ballot and according to USPS, voters should give their ballot 14-days to arrive)
- 2020 is a Census Year. Data from the census determine congressional representation, inform hundreds of billions in federal funding every year, and provide data that will impact communities for the next decade.
- Right now, Allegheny County’s self-response rate is only 68.2% as compared to 71.3% of the final self-response rate for the 2010 Census (HTC, 2020).
- However, some areas have much lower response rates, including Oakland, McKees Rocks, Homewood, East Hills, McKeesport and Braddock, who in May had between 60% and 80% of their 2010 response rate (Rihl, 2020).
- Right now, Allegheny County’s self-response rate is only 68.2% as compared to 71.3% of the final self-response rate for the 2010 Census (HTC, 2020).
Drives, Donations, and DIY
Allegheny County Poll Workers: Sign up now to become a registered poll worker for the general election on Tuesday, November 3.
Census 2020: Complete your census by Wednesday, September 30.
References
HTC 2020. (n.d.). Retrieved September 07, 2020, from https://www.censushardtocountmaps2020.us/?latlng=40.73718,-78.18283
Martin, A. (2020, June 18). Stronger than expected primary voter turnout causing Allegheny County election officials to turn their attention to November. Retrieved September 07, 2020, from https://www.wpxi.com/news/top-stories/stronger-than-expected-primary-voter-turnout-causing-allegheny-county-election-officials-turn-their-attention-november/6PYWOGNXKZFWDD7JPURCCG64SA/
Rihl, J. (2020, May 15). COVID-19 disrupted the census. But accurate counts are needed to guide aid, recovery efforts and maybe even vaccines. - PublicSource: News for a better Pittsburgh. Retrieved September 07, 2020, from https://www.publicsource.org/covid-19-disrupted-the-census-but-accurate-counts-are-needed-to-guide-aid-recovery-efforts-and-maybe-even-vaccines/
U.S. Census Bureau. (2020, February 03). Population and Voting Rates for Congressional Districts: 2018. Retrieved September 07, 2020, from https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/voting-and-registration/congressional-voting-tables.html
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