ABOUT US.

The National VOTE (Voter Outreach, Turnout, and Empowerment) Movement was founded in 2024 in Walpole, Massachusetts, after a troubling revelation: despite most residents being registered, voter turnout in local elections was incredibly small. Town governments handle trillions of dollars from taxpayers, funding everything from roads and housing to schools and recreation. Yet, conversations with community members revealed that many did not know when their elections were held, who was running, or how local government affected their lives.
 

To fix that, we created easy-to-read digital voter brochures with election dates, candidate bios, and ballot basics. We shared them in senior centers, grocery stores, the local newspaper, and social media groups. Within days, over 1,000 residents scanned the QR code for the Walpole local election - proof that when information is accessible, people pay attention.
 

Our mission is to ensure that every eligible voter, particularly young people, has the tools to make informed decisions about their local government. We believe local elections should feel just as important as national ones because they shape the policies that affect daily life, from school funding to zoning laws.
 

So, we launched the Town Ambassador Program. High school students in over 20 states and 3 countries are leading voter outreach efforts to inform residents about their local elections. Research shows that the average turnout for local elections in the U.S. sits around 20%, and in some cities it drops below 15%. This isn’t just a turnout problem - it’s a civic education problem.
 

In 2022, only 22% of American eighth graders scored “proficient” in civics, the lowest in years. That means students are learning about government in textbooks, but not learning how to participate in it. The Town Ambassador Program was designed to change that. Ambassadors email candidates, design flyers, translate guides, host Q&As, and knock on doors. They don’t just learn democracy - they practice it. When a 16-year-old helps a neighbor understand a ballot, voting becomes a habit, not a chore. And habit is what builds lifelong voters and future leaders.

 

By focusing on voter education, community outreach, and youth empowerment, the National VOTE Movement is building a new generation of changemakers, one town at a time. Through our expansion efforts, we’re creating a future where every voice is heard, and every vote matters.