San Mateo County All Together Better :: Indicators :: Voter Engagement

Red is bad, green is good, blue is not statistically different/neutral.

Compared to Distribution

an indicator guage with the arrow in the green the value is in the best half of communities.

an indicator guage with the arrow in the yellow the value is in the 2nd worst quarter of communities.

an indicator guage with the arrow in the red the value is in the worst quarter of communities.

Compared to Target

green circle with white tick inside it meets target; red circle with white cross inside it does not meet target.

Compared to a Single Value

green diamond with downward arrow inside it lower than the comparison value; red diamond with downward arrow inside it higher than the comparison value; blue diamond with downward arrow inside it not statistically different from comparison value.

Trend

green square outline with upward trending arrow inside it green square outline with downward trending arrow inside it non-significant change over time; green square with upward trending arrow inside it green square with downward trending arrow inside it significant change over time; blue square with equals sign no change over time.

Compared to Prior Value

green triangle with upward trending arrow inside it higher than the previous measurement period; green triangle with downward trending arrow inside it lower than the previous measurement period; blue equals sign no statistically different change from previous measurement period.

green chart bars Significantly better than the overall value

red chart bars Significantly worse than the overall value

light blue chart bars No significant difference with the overall value

gray chart bars No data on significance available

Why is this important?

Voting in a democracy is not only a patriotic act, but also an important tool for ensuring national, state, and local leaders are responsive to and reflective of the communities they serve. Yet, many eligible voters do not participate in the voting process due to several factors. These factors include: unnecessary barriers in voter registration and overall voting processes, discriminatory ex-offender laws, voter suppression, and a general feeling of alienation from the process. Many of these factors are felt more by minorities within communities. Low voter participation by minorities, such as persons of color, women, LGBTQ individuals, or those with disabilities, can lead to further underrepresentation of their needs and contributions within communities.

Increasing voter engagement can lead to more equitable laws and policies while also empowering all citizens. Voting is also associated with better health outcomes, cohesive communities, and more effective advocacy. Some ways to enhance voter engagement within communities are: streamlining voter registration, making voting more convenient through early voting or mail-in voting, restoring rights for formerly incarcerated people, and strengthening civics education in schools.

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