League of Women Voters Targets Springfield Low Voter Turnout
Springfield residents turning out to vote on nine separate ballot measures are confronting confusing inactive voter lists and complex questions that have required multiple conversations, according to local reports.
Springfield Voters Face Inactive Registration Hurdle
The League of Women Voters Massachusetts focused extensive energy this year on getting Springfield residents registered to vote, specifically targeting individuals who fell off the rolls because of chronic low voter turnout. Too many people have landed on inactive voting lists without realizing it. When these residents arrive at polling places, they are often turned away or become discouraged, failing to complete the necessary steps to re-register according to LVWMA Springfield Director Tracey Carpenter.
“Why they don’t know — that’s many, many reasons — but they go to vote and they’re sort of turned away,” Carpenter said, “or they’re discouraged and they don’t follow through with the necessary steps [to re-register].”
Ballot Measures Drive Engagement
With nine distinct ballot questions on the local agenda, voters are showing up primarily to weigh in on specific issues rather than individual candidates. Carpenter noted that this could be the first time in the league’s history in Springfield that people are registering to vote to respond to the ballot measures. Residents are actively seeking clarification on what constitutes a “yes” or “no” vote before casting their ballots.
“You know, usually if you’re just doing get out the vote work I might have one conversation with you,” Carpenter said. “This time I had to have several conversations with you because you asked me about the ballot questions and you needed a little bit more information. What a yes is, what a no is so.”
Organizers Mobilize Young Voters to Increase Turnout
Efforts to combat chronic low turnout center heavily on mobilizing younger voters who stand to lose or gain the most. Organizers say they must help younger residents connect voting directly to their futures. For the League of Women Voters, a successful election outcome means shedding Springfield’s reputation as “the city with low voter turnout.”