IVote is a Democratic PAC which was founded in 2014 as a single-issue organization surrounded enacting automatic voter registration and electing Democratic state secretaries of state. 1 The organization claims that Republican secretaries of state engage in supposed “voter suppression” on demographic and partisan bases, and opposes all types of election integrity measures such as voter photo identification laws and removing dead voters from voting rolls. 1 2
Background
IVote was founded in 2014 with the purpose of supporting Democratic candidates for state-level secretary of state, which in many states is a statewide elected position that oversees the state elections department. Most states hold elections for secretary of state are usually in non-presidential election years, and the races are frequently overshadowed by statewide races for governor or the United States Senate. Due to this, seemingly low levels of out-of-state funding can influence these low-profile races. IVote utilizes a national infrastructure to elect Democrats to these offices to enact left-wing election administration policies like automatic and universal voter registration. 1
Additionally, iVote leads ballot measures in many states to enact automatic voter registration. Automatic voter registration laws have passed in twelve states and the District of Columbia as of June 2019. 1
Funding
IVote spent over $1.3 million during the 2014 election cycle and raised $1.4 million in the 2018 election cycle, while spending just under $65,000 in the 2016 cycle. 3
The largest donor to the PAC is American Bridge 21st Century, which gave over $1 million dollars to iVote in 2018. Other prominent donors to the organization include the National Education Association, Unite Here, EMILY’s List, Let America Vote, Priorities USA Action, and the Philadelphia Eagles. 3
Midterm Advertising
During the 2022 midterm elections iVote spent $4 million on advertising in Minnesota and Michigan in support of Democratic nominees for Secretary of State. 4 In addition, iVote also released an advertising campaign to support the Secretary of State campaigns for Democratic nominees Adrian Fontes of Arizona and Cisco Aguilar of Nevada, respectfully. 4
People
The president and founder of iVote is Ellen Kurz. Former Missouri Democrat Secretary of State and Democratic Party nominee for U.S. Senate Jason Kander is an iVote board member. 1
References
- “About” IVote. Accessed May 30, 2019. https://www.ivoteforamerica.org/about
- Jacoby, Jeff. “The Arrogance of Automatic Voter Registration” The Boston Globe. March 28, 2018. Accessed May 30, 2019. https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2018/03/27/the-arrogance-automatic-voter-registration/d16LhlVe9QIG2smF3DiRaP/story.html
- “IVote Fund”. Opensecrets.org – Center for Responsive Politics. Accessed May 30, 2019. https://www.opensecrets.org/527s/527cmtedetail.php?ein=464431052&cycle=2018
- Wren, Adam, and Zach Montellaro. “Liberal Group Spends $4 Million to Boost Secretary of State Races.” POLITICO, September 23, 2022. https://www.politico.com/news/2022/09/23/secretary-of-state-ivote-00058499.