The participation rate in elections among individuals experiencing homelessness is notably low due to restrictive registration regulations, political disinterest, and the erroneous belief that they are ineligible to vote. Pine Street Inn, the largest homeless services organization in New England, co-organized a voter registration initiative to encourage individuals experiencing homelessness to participate in elections.
At the Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen in New Haven, Connecticut, measures have been implemented to include voter registration details in the intake procedure at its drop-in resource center, especially in anticipation of the November election. Steve Werlin, the executive director, highlighted that many individuals unaware they can vote without a fixed address. The perception of ineligibility is cited as a significant barrier.
Research indicates that voter turnout among the homeless population is significantly low. A 2012 study suggested that just 10 percent of eligible voters experiencing homelessness cast their votes, a stark contrast to the 54 percent turnout from the nation’s voting-age population. Some individuals may choose not to vote for personal political reasons, while others encounter challenges in registration and accessing election information without a fixed address.
Misinformation is identified as a major obstacle. Donald Whitehead, the executive director of the National Coalition for the Homeless, pointed out the prevalent belief that homelessness precludes the ability to vote without a regular address, often perpetuated by misinformation or intentional suppression. In response, the National Coalition for the Homeless has initiated a campaign titled “You Don’t Need a Home To Vote,” aimed at combating misinformation and facilitating voting among the homeless. State laws vary, but individuals can often register using a shelter, church, public park, or street intersection as their residence.
The voting system frequently assumes voters have a specific residential address, complicating the process for those without one. Essential voting information is typically distributed via the postal service, and shelters may struggle with managing election-related mail. Those living without a permanent shelter often face difficulties maintaining necessary identification due to the risk of losing IDs in sweeps of encampments. Furthermore, voting locations can be inaccessible due to distance and transportation barriers.
In Georgia, a looming law set to take effect in 2025 has raised concerns among voting rights supporters. The new requirement compels voters without a residential address to register at their county registrar’s office, threatening the registration of many currently using nonresidential addresses. Andrew Garber from the Brennan Center’s Voting Rights and Election Program stresses the need to expand voting access, advocating for varied voting options such as early voting and no-excuse absentee voting as means to enhance democratic participation.
Efforts are ongoing to mobilize voters experiencing homelessness, particularly in swing states, which could potentially influence tightly contested elections. Previous elections demonstrate the significant difference even a small number of votes could make. Within local elections, encouraging voters to elect officials opposed to the criminalization of homelessness is seen as pivotal. Recent developments such as the Supreme Court’s June ruling in Grants Pass v. Johnson on the legality of punishing individuals for sleeping outdoors have further highlighted the importance of local political actions.
Dora Kingsley Vertenten, a public policy professor, emphasized the neglect of homeless individuals by political campaigns, an issue compounded by low voter turnout. Steve Werlin noted a general sentiment of disenfranchisement among the homeless community, fostered by a government perceived as indifferent to their needs and concerns. Neither of the main presidential candidates has focused on homelessness within their platforms, leaving such critical issues largely unaddressed.