In Philadelphia’s 2031 general election, voter turnout increases, compared to 31% in 2023. In Pennsylvania’s 2032 presidential election, the gap in voter turnout rates between voters of color and white voters decreases compared to the gap in 2024.
Voting is one of the most powerful tools for change that citizens have in our democracy, but the level of citizen engagement is low and uneven among certain demographic groups. Because lags in voter participation along the lines of race, income, age, and education level distort our system of government, the Foundation seeks to support nonpartisan efforts to educate eligible voters, especially in underrepresented groups, on the importance of voting and how to access the electoral process.
There are 8.7 million registered voters in Pennsylvania and just over 1 million in Philadelphia. However, in most elections, fewer than half of these voters cast a ballot. Pennsylvanians who do not vote are at risk of seeing their interests unrepresented and the issues most important to them unaddressed.
2020 Census data showed that, mirroring national trends, Pennsylvania is becoming more racially diverse. Yet, residents of color turn out to vote at lower rates than white residents [1]. As communities of color compose more of the state’s population, engaging residents of color with non-partisan information on voting helps to ensure that all Pennsylvanians have the opportunity to be heard. Here in Philadelphia, the city’s share of statewide votes cast has been declining, suggesting that voter participation is lagging compared to other counties in the state.
In advancing this objective, we are dedicated to connecting more people to more opportunities and more resources. Possible efforts include approaches that help more people understand how to vote and why it matters, especially people who are currently underrepresented in the electorate, so that more people have the opportunity to decide who represents them, and how issues and interests are prioritized.
We measure progress on this objective by reviewing trends in voter turnout in midterm and general elections, using publicly available data reported by the Pennsylvania Department of State and the Philadelphia City Commissioners. We will also partner with a research center to analyze gaps in voter turnout by race and understand trends over time.
The William Penn Foundation is strictly non-partisan and funds only charitable activities as defined by the Internal Revenue Service. As a private foundation, we cannot earmark funds for voter registration.
Notes:
- KFF’s State Health Facts, Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, November 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2022; Voting and Registration Tables, Table 4b.
