Voters of Tomorrow explained

Formation:2019
Founder:Santiago Mayer
Type:Advocacy group
Location Country:United States of America

Voters of Tomorrow is an American left-leaning advocacy organization that seeks to promotes political engagement among Generation Z through online and on-campus efforts. The group reportedly has chapters in over 20 states.

History

Voters of Tomorrow was founded in 2019 by Santiago Mayer, a Mexican immigrant. At the time, he was 17 years old and attending high school in California.[1] [2] [3] Mayer cited his anger toward then-President Donald Trump's "Muslim ban" as one of the reasons behind the group's founding.

Activities

2022 election efforts

During the 2022 election cycle, the group reportedly contacted young voters over 8.4 million times by phone, by text, or in person, including a reported 6 million contacts in the weeks leading up to the general election and over 2 million during the U.S. Senate runoff in Georgia.[4] [5] The group's efforts to organize young voters in 2022 were noted in Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and California.[6] The group also touted a social media reach of more than 100 million in the weeks ahead of the election. Voters of Tomorrow was "one of several youth voter groups that worked to boost turnout among 18-29-year-olds and may have saved the [2022] election for the Democrats," according to the Financial Times.[7]

In Texas, after officials shut down the on-campus early voting location at Texas A&M University, Voters of Tomorrow and other groups organized two weeks of shuttle buses to transport students to vote at another polling place.[8] During the U.S. Senate runoff in Georgia, the group helped offer complimentary Uber vouchers to young people traveling to their polling place in all of Georgia's 159 counties.[9] [10]

During the 2022 election cycle, Voters of Tomorrow endorsed multiple candidates, including Democratic U.S. House candidate Maxwell Frost and Democratic Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro.[11] [12] Frost, who became the first member of Gen Z elected to Congress, publicly noted that Voters of Tomorrow was among the first national organizations to support his political campaign, helping legitimize his efforts.[13]

2024 election efforts

On March 11, 2024, Voters of Tomorrow endorsed Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for reelection as president and vice president, respectively. The announcement was made in conjunction with 14 other groups representing young voters.[14]

In advance of the 2024 elections, Voters of Tomorrow has reportedly continued its efforts to engage young voters on college campuses.[15] The group also collected signatures from members of the U.S. House of Representatives on its "Youth Vote Champions' Pledge," which encourages candidates to engage with young voters early in the cycle. House members including Katie Porter, Elissa Slotkin, Dan Goldman, Maxwell Frost, and Mary Peltola signed the pledge.[16] [17]

During the 2024 Republican Party presidential primaries, Voters of Tomorrow initiated a trolling campaign to dissuade young voters from supporting candidates Donald Trump and Nikki Haley. The group purchased domain names associated with the two politicians that now redirect to websites containing the candidates' views. Voters of Tomorrow then reportedly placed digital advertisements in an attempt to increase traffic to the website among Instagram and Snapchat users in various battleground states.[18] [19]

Lobbying efforts and confrontation with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene

In 2022, Voters of Tomorrow published its "Gen Z Agenda," a legislative platform based on polling of college students nationwide. The platform contains policies including raising the minimum wage, abolishing the filibuster in Congress, protecting abortion rights, preventing gun violence, and combating climate change.[20] Voters of Tomorrow claims it lobbied The White House and over 100 Congressional offices on its "Gen Z Agenda" in 2022 and boasted its progress in certain areas.[21]

While attending meetings at the U.S. Capitol in September 2022, members of Voters of Tomorrow confronted Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene regarding gun control. In a video posted on Greene’s Twitter account, Greene appears to kick a member of Voters of Tomorrow. Greene's office disputed Voters of Tomorrow’s account of the incident.[22] [23]

Voting rights lawsuits

In May 2023, Voters of Tomorrow, in conjunction with Florida NAACP, UnidosUS, and other groups, filed a lawsuit in the Northern District of Florida challenging the states' Senate Bill 7050.[24] [25] The plaintiffs petitioned for a preliminary injunction against the law's noncitizen voter registration ban. The case is ongoing.[26] [27] Members of Voters of Tomorrow have advocated against other proposed changes to Florida election law, including those related to restricting mail-in ballot access.[28] [29]

In February 2023, Voters of Tomorrow threatened legal action against Texas officials if the state legislature passed House Bill 2390, legislation that would ban polling places on college campuses.[30] [31] [32]

Annual summits

Voters of Tomorrow hosted a multi-day event in August 2022. The summit gathered youth activists, some as young as 13 years old, in Philadelphia.

In July 2023, the group hosted its second summit in Washington, D.C., with speakers included former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi; White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre; Representatives Maxwell Frost, Summer Lee, Robert Garcia, and Jamaal Bowman; former Senator Doug Jones; and North Carolina Democratic Party Chair Anderson Clayton.[33] [34]

Other advocacy campaigns

In response to the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization Supreme Court decision, Voters of Tomorrow launched a campaign to distribute contraceptives in order to potentially raise voter awareness. Volunteers at college campuses in multiple states handed out condoms with brochures about reproductive health and information on how to vote.[35] [36]

In response to a rise in book bans across the U.S., in 2022, Voters of Tomorrow distributed hundreds of copies of books challenged or banned in local school districts. The books included Beloved by Toni Morrison and Maus by Art Spiegelman.[37] [38] [39] During the book distributions, the group also encouraged high school students to register to vote.[40]

On November 17, 2022, during the Taylor Swift–Ticketmaster controversy, Voters of Tomorrow launched an antitrust campaign titled "S.W.I.F.T." (Swifties Working to Increase Fairness from Ticketmaster). The group intended to mobilize Gen Z to advocate for enhanced federal oversight that would prevent future entertainment monopolies, according to news organizations.[41] [42]

Organizational structure

Voters of Tomorrow has chapters in 20 states and volunteers in all 50 states.[43] [44]

The organization's board of directors includes Randi Weingarten and Olivia Troye, among others. The group also has an advisory board that includes Fred Guttenberg, Eliza Orlins, Yohuru Williams, Joely Fisher, and others.[45]

Notes and References

  1. Kim . E. Tammy . 2024-06-27 . Do the Democrats Have a Gen Z Problem? . 2024-07-01 . The New Yorker . en-US . 0028-792X.
  2. Web site: Grumbach . Gary . 2023-02-09 . New PAC aims at increasing Generation Z's political clout . 2024-02-07 . NBC News . en.
  3. Web site: DiBenedetto . Chase . 5 April 2023 . Record-breaking Wisconsin Supreme Court flip sparks reflection on youth voter mobilization . 2024-02-07 . Mashable . en . 6.
  4. Web site: Murray . Isabella . Young voters 'canceled out' midterm voters over 65, blocking GOP gains: Experts . 2024-02-07 . ABC News . en.
  5. Web site: Weissert . Will . Fingerhut . Hannah . 2022-12-12 . Young voters' enthusiasm for Democrats waned during midterms . 2024-02-10 . AP News . en.
  6. Web site: Dorman . John L. . Young voters propelled Raphael Warnock to victory in the Georgia Senate runoff, but the work to boost their political engagement continues: 'We're not stopping here' . 2024-02-10 . Business Insider . en-US.
  7. Web site: Stacey . Kiran . Gilbert . Caitlin . 2022-11-11 . How the youth vote helped the Democrats avert an election rout . 2024-02-11 . Financial Times.
  8. Web site: Knox . Liam . Students Bolstered Strong Youth Voter Turnout . 2024-02-19 . Inside Higher Ed . en.
  9. Web site: 2022-12-06 . Warnock projected winner after Georgia's U.S. Senate runoff Election highlights . 2024-02-19 . 11Alive.com . en-US.
  10. Web site: Janfaza . Rachel . 'Sandwiching an election between holidays and college exams': How organizers are mobilizing young voters in the Georgia Senate Runoff . 2024-02-19 . The Up and Up . en.
  11. Web site: Group . For Medianews . 2022-07-18 . Youth Voting Organization, Voters of Tomorrow, Endorses Josh Shapiro . 2024-02-11 . thereporteronline . en-US.
  12. Web site: Skalka . Liz . 2022-12-10 . Told By Ron DeSantis 'Nobody Wants To Hear From You,' Now He's Headed To Congress . 2024-02-11 . HuffPost . en.
  13. News: Alfaro . Mariana . 11 October 2022 . Shaped by gun violence and climate change, Gen Z weighs whether to vote . 12 February 2024 . Washington Post . 5.
  14. Web site: 2024-03-11 . Youth activist groups jointly endorse Biden. They say his achievements matter more than his age . 2024-03-26 . AP News . en.
  15. Web site: Scheckner . Jesse . 2023-09-28 . Gen Z group to register voters at Kamala Harris tour stop in Miami-Dade . 2024-02-07 . Florida Politics . en-US.
  16. News: Doherty . Erin . 2023-05-03 . Exclusive: Dems eye young voters for an edge in 2024 . 2024-02-11 . Axios.
  17. Web site: Janfaza . Rachel . The youth voter space gears up for 2024 . 2024-02-07 . The Up and Up . en.
  18. Web site: Yang . Angela . 2024-01-22 . A Gen Z advocacy group is trying to dissuade young voters from backing Trump and Haley . 2024-02-07 . NBC News . en.
  19. Kelly . Makena . A Group of Trolling Gen-Z Voters Is Buying Up GOP Domains . 2024-02-11 . Wired . en-US . 1059-1028.
  20. Web site: Rosenblum . Cassady . 17 December 2023 . The Gerontocracy Waged War on Gen Z. Now They're Fighting Back . 12 February 2024 . Rolling Stone . 8.
  21. Web site: The White House . 21 September 2023 . WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: Biden-Harris Administration Launches American Climate Corps . 12 February 2024 . The White House.
  22. News: Alfaro . Mariana . Bogage . Jacob . Eugene . Scott . 2022-09-16 . Activist claims Greene kicked her; congresswoman's office denies incident . 2024-02-13 . The Washington Post.
  23. News: Kim . Juliana . 2022-09-16 . Marjorie Taylor Greene shares a video in which she appears to kick a youth activist . 2024-02-13 . National Public Radio.
  24. Web site: Soule . Douglas . 2023-05-24 . DeSantis signed a sweeping election bill. Advocacies groups are now suing. . 2024-02-14 . Tallahassee Democrat . en-US.
  25. Web site: Carillo . Brenno . 2023-05-25 . SB 7050: Why the League of Women Voters, other orgs are suing Florida over new law . 2024-02-14 . Daytona Beach News-Journal . en-US.
  26. Web site: Gancarski . A. G. . 2023-07-03 . Federal judge issues injunction against Florida's latest election law, cites discrimination . 2024-02-14 . Florida Politics . en-US.
  27. Web site: Gideon . Rubin . 2023-07-03 . DeSantis administration loses battle over new Florida election law as judge issues preliminary injunction . 2024-02-14 . Raw Story . en.
  28. News: Mower . Lawrence . 2023-04-04 . Legislature considers additional election changes affecting mail voting, ID cards, more . 2024-02-13 . Miami Herald.
  29. Web site: Bousquet . Steve . 2023-04-09 . Another sneak attack punishes Florida voters . 2024-02-14 . Orlando Sentinel . en-US.
  30. Web site: Whitely . Jason . 24 February 2023 . A ban on voting sites on college campuses? A Gen Z voter group has lawsuit set, is ready for fight with Texas Republicans over proposal . 15 February 2024 . WFAA.
  31. Web site: Fogel . Becky . March 1, 2023 . A Texas Republican says banning college polling places is about safety. Students don't buy it. . February 15, 2024 . KUT.
  32. Web site: Adame . Jaime . February 27, 2023 . Texas Lawmaker Seeks to Eliminate Polling Sites on Campuses . February 15, 2024 . Inside Higher Ed.
  33. News: Wells . Dylan . 2023-08-06 . At dueling youth conferences, differing messages on 2024 . 2023-02-07 . The Washington Post.
  34. Web site: Janfaza . Rachel . 31 July 2023 . Pushing back against an 'assault on Gen Z rights' . 12 February 2024 . The Up and Up . en.
  35. Web site: Janfaza . Rachel . 2022-11-21 . 6 Things to Know About Youth Voter Turnout in the Midterms . 2024-02-07 . Teen Vogue . en-US.
  36. Web site: Janfaza . Rachel . Your Monday night plans and a Gen Z push to distribute condoms on college campuses . 2024-02-07 . The Up and Up . en.
  37. Web site: Alfonseca . Kiara . Students protest book bans by distributing 'Maus,' 'Beloved' . 2024-02-07 . ABC News . en.
  38. Web site: Ruiz-Grossman . Sarah . 2022-02-02 . Youth-Led Group To Give Out Hundreds Of Copies Of 'Beloved,' 'Maus' Amid Book Bans . 2024-02-07 . HuffPost . en.
  39. Web site: Stauffer . Rainesford . 13 October 2022 . Voter Registration Isn't Enough, Youth Organizers Say . 12 February 2024 . Teen Vogue.
  40. Web site: Roth . Maggie . 2022-05-04 . Northern Virginia Students and Parents React to the Effort to Ban Books Deemed Sexually Explicit . 2024-02-19 . Northern Virginia Magazine . en-US.
  41. Web site: Tabak . Nicole . A group of Taylor Swift fans who are also lawyers is organizing to take on Ticketmaster . 2024-02-19 . Business Insider . en-US.
  42. Web site: Balakrishnan . Renuka . 2023-05-19 . Brought Swiftly to Justice: How a Pop Star's Ticketing Scandal Made Waves in Antitrust Legislation . 2024-02-19 . Columbia Political Review . en-US.
  43. Web site: Mayer . Santiago . Gen Z will be an unbeatable force in 2024 – if we stand up to the far right together . 2024-02-07 . USA TODAY . en-US.
  44. Web site: Weissert . Will . 2023-07-30 . Joe Biden, America's oldest sitting president, needs young voters to win again. Will his age matter? . 2024-02-07 . AP News . en.
  45. Web site: About Us . 2024-02-17 . Voters of Tomorrow . en.

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