Let’s be honest: far too many voters today feel disengaged or apathetic about our political process. Even when eligible Americans turn out in higher numbers during presidential years, overall participation has remained uneven and well below full civic engagement, with only about 65% of the voting-eligible population casting ballots in 2024 and registration rates at roughly 74%.
At the same time, public trust in government institutions is near historic lows, as fewer than one in five Americans now say they trust Washington (D.C.) to do what’s right most of the time. This deep distrust isn’t just abstract! Research shows that, globally speaking, when people lose confidence in the system, they’re less likely to participate meaningfully in it.
At Elect Better, our message is clear: political leaders must be held accountable for their votes and legislative actions, not just their promises. When we elect candidates aligned with our values and can clearly see what they actually do in office, we start to rebuild a civic culture where participation feels valuable.
I truly believe that accountability and transparency are key to reversing disengagement, not just simply increasing turnout numbers, but restoring a shared sense of trust in our democracy’s processes. Join us in reshaping the future of voter engagement with these two simple requests: (1) Join the Elect Better waitlist if you haven’t done so or refer your friend or family member; and (2) Exercise your voice at the ballot box in your upcoming midterm primary election!
Upcoming Elections
Midterm primary elections kick off Tuesday, March 3rd! If you are in one of the following states, educate yourself on “primary type,” make a plan with the “voting details”, and learn about any voting laws that may have changed in your state with our “election & voting digest”, before you go #ElectBetter!
Tuesday, March 3rd
Arkansas
Primary Type: Open — Open primary elections generally do not require voters to choose a party when registering, and allow voters to privately select which party’s primary ballot to vote without registering with that party, enabling cross-party voting. These states establish open primaries through statutes guaranteeing access to either party’s primary or by placing all parties’ primaries on the same ballot, making restrictions impossible.[1]
North Carolina
Primary Type: Open to Unaffiliated — This allows unaffiliated voters to choose a party’s primary while barring registered party members from voting in another party’s primary, making this different from a true open primary. In some states with this primary type, unaffiliated voters must select a party’s ballot to participate, sometimes publicly, without changing their unaffiliated registration status.[2]
Texas
Primary Type: Open (Full definition under “Arkansas,” above)
Tuesday, March 10th
Mississippi
Primary Type: Open (Full definition under “Arkansas,” above)
Tuesday, March 17th
Illinois
Primary Type: Partially Open — This system allows voters to cross party lines, but their ballot choice may be treated as a form of party registration. Some states with this primary type allow voters to publicly change party affiliation at the polls to vote in a primary, and some parties track who participates in their primaries.[3]
Tuesday, March 31st
Arkansas – Primary Runoff Elections
What is a runoff election? A second round of voting is held when no candidate in the first election (primary or general) achieves the required majority threshold to declare a sure winner, typically advancing the top two vote-getters to determine the winner. This ensures the eventual winner earns a majority of votes rather than just a plurality.[4]
For more information on the upcoming Arkansas elections, please reference the section under March 3rd, above.