BallotReady

If you're a parent or live in a city, this election cycle matters ⬇️ That also goes for any of us that drive on highways, use parks and libraries, or hope the fire department will show up in time when we call 911.

You've probably heard this one before: the criminal justice system in America is broken. But what if I told you the biggest problems it faces aren't the ones you think – and neither are the solutions? 🤔 Judge for yourself. According to the Court Statistics Project, federal courts saw 920,000 case filings in 2023. State trial courts? A staggering 68 million. And among the state trial judges overseeing these cases, 90% aren't appointed by president or governor – they are elected by voters. The real kicker? According to our own research, up to 80% of these state trial judge races typically go uncontested. The good news: with even a moderate investment these races, political parties could reshape our criminal justice system almost overnight. So, why wait? ⚡️ In 2025, over 1,000 state and local judgeships are on the ballot. In our latest report, see a preview of these races and learn more about the various ways judges face accountability to voters through direct election and retention votes. Link in the comments ⬇️

As proud as I am that 72% of Atlanta voters turned out to vote this past November, I am equally sad that only 22% turned out for the last Atlanta mayoral race. I think often about issues Atlantans talk about the most – from better MARTA service, reducing homelessness, extending the Beltline, updates to utility grids, to even removing coyotes roaming the streets. These policies have a lot more to do with the decisions made by Mayor Andre Dickens than they do with those of Donald Trump. This year, both the mayor and a majority of the Atlanta city council are on the ballot again. And that's hardly it. New York City, Detroit, Boston, Oakland and over 5,000 other cities across the country also have mayoral elections this year. Check out a piece I published previewing these races in the comments, and join our effort to increase turnout ⬇️

Last year, 72% of eligible voters in Atlanta turned out to vote in November. But Atlanta's last mayoral election? 22% turnout 🤢 More examples from a recent study comparing 2024 presidential turnout rates in big cities to their last mayoral election: New York City: 54% vs 23% San Antonio: 58% vs 15% Charlotte: 70% vs 15% Detroit: 59% vs 19% Seattle: 80% vs 55% Millions of voters in cities who just cast ballots across the country are primed to vote in local elections this year – but most are unlikely to do so. So, how do we close the gap? 🤔 We start by reminding voters in these cities when to vote and informing them on who is on the ballot. See a preview of mayoral and city council seats up for election in 2025, including: The 50 biggest cities with mayoral races  A preview of the over 31,000 city council seats up for election A look at under-the-radar mayoral races to keep an eye on this year  By the way – Atlanta, New York City, San Antonio, Charlotte, Detroit and Seattle all have mayoral races this year 💡 https://hubs.li/Q030-JSD0

Our internal numbers from this past cycle show unprecedented engagement and desire among American voters to be prepared and participate in down ballot elections 📈 All of that is due to the transformational efforts of our partners, users, and followers like you. So from the bottom of our hearts, we want to thank you for your commitment this year and wish you a joyous and restful holiday season over the next few weeks 🎄 See you in 2025!

Did you know that school board elections with high voter turnout correlate with higher academic outcomes for students in those districts as compared to districts with low voter turnout? 💡 From picking the books our children read to funding for afterschool programs, the importance of electing qualified school board members can't be understated. In 2025, there are over 22,000 open school board seats on the ballot, making it a pivotal year for parents, students and teachers in almost every state 📈 Despite their importance, these elections often have low turnout, close margins, and in many cases go uncontested. Together, we can change that.  See a preview of open school board seats next year and then sign up for a 2025 strategy call with our team. https://hubs.li/Q02_szXp0

There are over 100,000 offices on the ballot in 2025. The issues people care about most are often shaped by these local elected officials, yet many organizations and voters sit out these odd-year elections. Excited that PoliticoPro is highlighting our analysis on what's at stake in '25: https://lnkd.in/dBqhjP5N And to learn more about what's on the ballot, see our research here: https://lnkd.in/dYj-R7e2

American democracy doesn't work the way most people think it does. Want us to prove it? 🤔 There are more open seats on the ballot across the country in 2025 than there were in 2024. And it's not even that close. From high profile mayoral races in New York, Boston and Atlanta to tens of thousands of local school board seats, voters have many choices to make next year. And there is limited time to prepare– in the month of February alone, there are over 10,000 seats on the ballot 📣 In the first of many previews of what's at stake in 2025, see: A visual of which states have the most open positions A preview of the number of seats on the ballot in each month of the year Level of government with the most open positions https://hubs.li/Q02-0DLf0

As we continue to reflect on this past election, I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who supported BallotReady this year. Millions of voters across the country used BallotReady tools & research this year to prepare to vote on downballot races and measures. I am so grateful to our staff, customers, and voters that made this possible. While national races understandably capture headlines, our experience this year shows that local elections matter more than ever. To all of the organizations doing the sometimes unglamorous work of recruiting candidates to run for school board, endorsing climate candidates in city council races, translating voter guides into ten languages - thank you. Your work shapes our the policies and governance of our communities every day. To all of the users who used BallotReady or shared it with a family member - thanks for being an active and engaged voter. A strong democracy depends on informed, thoughtful voters like you who participate in our elections. Finally to our team - your work made a huge difference for millions this cycle. Together we’re all helping to build our democracy for the next generation (see picture below!). Plus, stay tuned. According to our research there are more positions on the ballot in 2025 than 2024 - onward 🛣️

We’re 10 shows in at #iVoted Concerts, w/ 8 more to go today on #ElectionDay! What a week, Fall, & year it has been. Eternally grateful to the #artists, team members & partners who make this all happen. And to the #FANS for turning out & making your voice heard! 90% of attendees are under 30 & 50% are 18-24. Thank you SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University & Chartmetric for your #data on the top trending artists that will increase civic impact the most. And to our talent buying & venue partner #LiveNationUrban! ❤️🎶🗳️ This is what we could do thanks to the incredible support of Lucille Wenegieme, Tappan Vickery, Jessy Tolkan, Cassie Carothers, Annie Melia, Arianna Jones, Keith Yetter, Tzipora Lederman, & more. I’m looking forward to our shows tonight while continuing to share our #data in the future with partners who want to statistically increase #voterturnout & beyond. In the meantime, find your #pollingplace + research your #ballot via BallotReady while ensuring that you & all who you know & reach #VOTE!