Reply #2: IMHO, this is the KEY ...

[NanceGreggs]

"Well, first we have to determine which demographic is least likely to vote. Maybe we should sponsor a survey, try to figure out why they don’t vote."

When Dean became our party chair, I said to my husband that THAT was the first thing he should do. He has access to volunteers, so put them to work on the phones. "Do you vote on a regular basis? Yes? Thanks for your time."

If the answer is NO, then find out why. The answers might be surprising; there might be issues out there that people feel are important to them that are never addressed. What if environmental issues are WAY more important to non-voters than anyone surmised? What if education is an OVERWHELMINGLY important topic, and people feel the government just isn't paying due attention? It may be as simple as being poorly informed as to how to go about registering, etc.

Once we know WHAT the issues are that consistently turn these people away from the voting process, we, as a party, can focus on those issues in the lead-up to elections.