Project Vote facts for kids
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| Formation | 1994 |
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| Type | 501(c)(3) non-profit |
| Purpose | Voting rights |
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Formerly called
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Voting for America |
Project Vote was a national organization that helped people register to vote. It was a nonpartisan group, meaning it did not support any specific political party. Project Vote also worked to protect the right to vote for everyone. This was especially true for people who might have found it harder to vote. The organization stopped its work on May 31, 2017.
Project Vote helped people get involved in the voting process. They offered training and support for voter registration drives. They also worked to solve problems related to voting rights through legal actions. Michael Slater was the last leader of Project Vote. He had worked there since 2004. The organization closed because it was difficult to get enough money to keep going.
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What Was Project Vote?
Project Vote was a special kind of organization. It was a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. This means it was set up to do good things for the public. It did not aim to make money. Its main goal was to make sure more people could vote. They focused on groups who often did not vote as much. These included people with lower incomes and minority groups.
How Did Project Vote Start?
The idea for Project Vote began a long time ago. An earlier group called Project VOTE! was active from 1982 to 1993. This older group helped set the stage for Project Vote. One famous event from Project VOTE! was a successful voter registration drive. This happened in Chicago in 1992. Barack Obama helped lead this effort.
Project Vote, as we know it, officially started in 1994. It was first called Voting for America, Inc. In 1997, it started using both names: Project Vote/Voting for America. Later, in 2010, the organization decided to use only the name Project Vote.
Who Did Project Vote Work With?
Project Vote often worked with other groups. From 1994 to 2008, they teamed up with local chapters of ACORN. Some people who were on Project Vote's board also worked with ACORN.
Project Vote also partnered with many other important organizations. These included groups like Demos and the Brennan Center for Justice. They all worked together on voting rights. They also focused on how elections are managed. This included making sure the National Voter Registration Act was followed. They did this through research, legal help, and offering advice.
Protecting Voting Rights
Project Vote sometimes took legal action to protect voting rights. For example, in February 2012, Project Vote filed a lawsuit. This lawsuit was against the state of Texas. It challenged rules that made it hard to register new voters. Project Vote believed these rules were unfair. They wanted to make it easier for people to sign up to vote.
