40th Ward Democrats

Understanding Voter Turnout, Strengthening Our Democracy

The 40th Ward Democrats are dedicated to increasing voter participation and ensuring that every voice is heard in our elections. Our Civics Research Project is focused on studying voter turnout in primary elections—analyzing trends, identifying barriers, and developing strategies to engage more residents in the democratic process.

RSVP for our canvass kickoff on Sunday, May 4th!

Our Mission

This initiative is dedicated to:

Investigating voter participation patterns in primary elections.
Identifying obstacles that prevent eligible voters from casting their ballots.
Understanding the factors that drive voter engagement.
Creating strategies to boost turnout and civic involvement in the 40th Ward.

Our Goals

Increase Democratic primary voter turnout by +7%.
Identify and overcome voting barriers.
Work with volunteers and organizations that care about local civic engagement.

Why This Matters

Primary elections play a crucial role in shaping our political landscape, yet they often see lower voter participation compared to general elections. Our research aims to uncover why this happens and how we can mobilize our community members to make their voices count in every election cycle.For local Chicago elected officials, the decisive election is the Primary Election, not the General Election.

To better understand why voters are not turning out to vote in Primary Elections, we will do the following:

Interview and engage voters with partner organizations.
Understand barriers and motivations to voting.
Analyze findings with research partners.
Respond with effective action to increase turnout.
Communicate directly with voters by engaging them with Get Out The Vote information leading up to the Primary Election.

Our Partners

We are proud to collaborate with organizations committed to strengthening democracy. Additionally, we are consulting our esteemed organizations and experts, including the Analyst Institute and a UIC Research Professor, to ensure our research strategies are data-driven, valid and effective.

How You Can Get Involved

We believe in community-driven research and invite you to contribute by:

Sharing your experiences and challenges with voting in primary elections.
Participating in our surveys.
Helping us spread awareness through community outreach efforts.
Volunteering with us to support voter education and mobilization.

Stay Updated

Follow us for the latest findings and ways to take action! Sign up for our newsletter, volunteer for an upcoming canvass, and join in on the 40th Ward Dems Civics Research Project. Together, we can increase voter turnout and strengthen our democracy.

Do you or your organization want to get involved? Contact Committeewoman Maggie O’Keefe at maggie@maggieokeefe.com

Paid for by Friends of Maggie O'Keefe

Paid for and authorized by Friends of Maggie O'Keefe. A copy of our report filed with the State Board of Elections is (or will be) available on the Board’s official website (www.elections.il.gov) or for purchase from the State Board of Elections, Springfield, Illinois.