Voter Engagement

The Right Question Strategy has been used to build awareness and participation among voters. 

 

Examples

  • RQI piloted a voter engagement strategy in 2004 with adult literacy programs in Arizona and New Hampshire. An evaluation conducted by a gradate student at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University found examples of “strong success” in both New Hampshire and Arizona, “particularly in strengthening critical thinking skills.” One group in Arizona reported that as a result of the RQI voter education workshop  93% of participants felt “more prepared” to vote and 87% “more interested” in voting.
  • Based on the success of the pilot, RQI implemented The Right Question Institute Voter Engagement Strategy for Election Day and Beyond in these ten states: Arizona, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island

 

Voices From the Field

I feel more confident (about voting now). I think (about) how the president decision affect me.

I feel that I will vote this year for the first time.

I learned what types of questions I should ask about before voting, and what choices will I make when voting for the right person to run our country.

Arizona adult literacy students, after participating in voter engagement workshop

The RQI Strategy is the best way to work with the population of adult learners in our programs. RQI has figured out a way to do voter education so that it is more about investing in adult learners’ ability to think for themselves than just about getting people to vote. The result is adult learners who are more likely to vote. They also learn skills that actually can help them with their classroom work and then, on top of that, they learn to better advocate for themselves when dealing with lots of other systems and services. It is quite a remarkable combination.

Art Ellison, Director of New Hampshire’s Adult Education System

Adult learners who had access to the RQI Strategy continued to be active, long after election day, in trying to have a say in decisions on a local and state level. They also were more effective advocates for themselves and for their families. The RQI Strategy gave them a set of tools that they continue to use in many situations.

Ami Magisos, coordinator of the Civics program in Arizona Adult Education.