[Music] from the moment I looked back into his
from the moment I looked back into his
from the moment I looked back into his eyes I knew he wasn’t going to make it I
eyes I knew he wasn’t going to make it I
eyes I knew he wasn’t going to make it I held out the clipboard and tried to
held out the clipboard and tried to
held out the clipboard and tried to break the bad news
break the bad news
break the bad news I pointed directly to the problem
I pointed directly to the problem
I pointed directly to the problem confused he asked me to explain it a
confused he asked me to explain it a
confused he asked me to explain it a second time this was the most
second time this was the most
second time this was the most heartbreaking voter-registration
heartbreaking voter-registration
heartbreaking voter-registration experience of my life
experience of my life
experience of my life the day was October 11th exactly one
the day was October 11th exactly one
the day was October 11th exactly one month before the 2016 presidential
month before the 2016 presidential
month before the 2016 presidential election move San Antonio’s staff
election move San Antonio’s staff
election move San Antonio’s staff fellows interns and volunteers were
fellows interns and volunteers were
fellows interns and volunteers were spread thin throughout the city rushing
spread thin throughout the city rushing
spread thin throughout the city rushing to register as many new young voters in
to register as many new young voters in
to register as many new young voters in bare County before the midnight deadline
bare County before the midnight deadline
bare County before the midnight deadline these were our final hours all hands on
these were our final hours all hands on
these were our final hours all hands on deck even if executive director I filled
deck even if executive director I filled
deck even if executive director I filled a shift at northeast Lakeview college a
a shift at northeast Lakeview college a
a shift at northeast Lakeview college a commuter campus at the edge of the city
commuter campus at the edge of the city
commuter campus at the edge of the city are you registered to vote
are you registered to vote
are you registered to vote I yelled across the busy Plaza today is
I yelled across the busy Plaza today is
I yelled across the busy Plaza today is your last chance to register to vote for
your last chance to register to vote for
your last chance to register to vote for the 2016 presidential election students
the 2016 presidential election students
the 2016 presidential election students stopped mid-step young people flocked to
stopped mid-step young people flocked to
stopped mid-step young people flocked to our table rushing to rushing to register
our table rushing to rushing to register
our table rushing to rushing to register to vote and grabbing a copy of our
to vote and grabbing a copy of our
to vote and grabbing a copy of our popular move San Antonio voter guide the
popular move San Antonio voter guide the
popular move San Antonio voter guide the line was ten people deep throughout the
line was ten people deep throughout the
line was ten people deep throughout the afternoon by the time he made it to the
afternoon by the time he made it to the
afternoon by the time he made it to the front I could feel his excitement
surrounded by his friends he jerked the
surrounded by his friends he jerked the clipboard away from me and began filling
clipboard away from me and began filling
clipboard away from me and began filling out the form before I could even finish
out the form before I could even finish
out the form before I could even finish explaining it to him first name last
explaining it to him first name last
explaining it to him first name last name address where you live
name address where you live
name address where you live County that’s where it all went wrong
County that’s where it all went wrong
County that’s where it all went wrong instead of marking B for Bay
instead of marking B for Bay
instead of marking B for Bay I watched this pin in slow-motion
I watched this pin in slow-motion
I watched this pin in slow-motion mark h4 haze I stopped him and took the
mark h4 haze I stopped him and took the
mark h4 haze I stopped him and took the clipboard what city do you live in I
clipboard what city do you live in I
clipboard what city do you live in I asked seeing the words San Marcos fall
asked seeing the words San Marcos fall
asked seeing the words San Marcos fall from his mouth I felt helpless
from his mouth I felt helpless
from his mouth I felt helpless he lived thirty minutes from his college
he lived thirty minutes from his college
he lived thirty minutes from his college but two counties away Texas has the most
but two counties away Texas has the most
but two counties away Texas has the most strict voting laws in the United States
strict voting laws in the United States
strict voting laws in the United States citizens like me who register voters are
citizens like me who register voters are
citizens like me who register voters are required to take a state-mandated class
required to take a state-mandated class
required to take a state-mandated class pledge and oath and follow a very rigid
pledge and oath and follow a very rigid
pledge and oath and follow a very rigid set of rules
set of rules
set of rules I can only register voters who live in
I can only register voters who live in
I can only register voters who live in the county where I live I must obtain
the county where I live I must obtain
the county where I live I must obtain written permission from each county
written permission from each county
written permission from each county election official to register voters in
election official to register voters in
election official to register voters in adjacent counties and I can’t register
adjacent counties and I can’t register
adjacent counties and I can’t register Texans outside of my home county and
Texans outside of my home county and
Texans outside of my home county and Jason counties I couldn’t help James he
Jason counties I couldn’t help James he
Jason counties I couldn’t help James he lived two counties away pointing at the
lived two counties away pointing at the
lived two counties away pointing at the clipboard I tried to explain the law and
clipboard I tried to explain the law and
clipboard I tried to explain the law and I handed him a mail-in voter
I handed him a mail-in voter
I handed him a mail-in voter registration application because of the
registration application because of the
registration application because of the 30-day deadline at midnight James would
30-day deadline at midnight James would
30-day deadline at midnight James would have to fill out the form put a stamp on
have to fill out the form put a stamp on
have to fill out the form put a stamp on it and drop it in the mail all by 5:00
it and drop it in the mail all by 5:00
it and drop it in the mail all by 5:00 p.m. today the time was 337 he had to be
p.m. today the time was 337 he had to be
p.m. today the time was 337 he had to be at work in less than 30 minutes James
at work in less than 30 minutes James
at work in less than 30 minutes James took the mail-in application and slid it
took the mail-in application and slid it
took the mail-in application and slid it into his backpack as his smile faded he
into his backpack as his smile faded he
into his backpack as his smile faded he walked off across the plaza we both knew
walked off across the plaza we both knew
walked off across the plaza we both knew he wouldn’t vote that year democracy
he wouldn’t vote that year democracy
he wouldn’t vote that year democracy lost a voice according to the Annette
lost a voice according to the Annette
lost a voice according to the Annette Strauss Institute at Civic for civic
Strauss Institute at Civic for civic
Strauss Institute at Civic for civic life at the University of Texas at
life at the University of Texas at
life at the University of Texas at Austin there are two reasons why young
Austin there are two reasons why young
Austin there are two reasons why young Texans don’t vote one voting
Texans don’t vote one voting
Texans don’t vote one voting my vote doesn’t matter and two voting is
my vote doesn’t matter and two voting is
my vote doesn’t matter and two voting is too hard
too hard
too hard restricted voting laws create barriers
restricted voting laws create barriers
restricted voting laws create barriers to civic participation and it’s working
to civic participation and it’s working
to civic participation and it’s working in November of 2014 our statewide voter
in November of 2014 our statewide voter
in November of 2014 our statewide voter turnout rate bottomed out when only 35%
turnout rate bottomed out when only 35%
turnout rate bottomed out when only 35% of our neighbors made their voices heard
of our neighbors made their voices heard
of our neighbors made their voices heard in this year’s city of San Antonio
in this year’s city of San Antonio
in this year’s city of San Antonio election 13% of us cast a vote for mayor
election 13% of us cast a vote for mayor
election 13% of us cast a vote for mayor and city council the only age
and city council the only age
and city council the only age demographic to grow Millennials the
demographic to grow Millennials the
demographic to grow Millennials the under 34 year olds increased 300% to
under 34 year olds increased 300% to
under 34 year olds increased 300% to just over 10% of the total turnout
just over 10% of the total turnout
just over 10% of the total turnout something is wrong here and we have to
something is wrong here and we have to
something is wrong here and we have to fix it you deserve a better ballot box
fix it you deserve a better ballot box
fix it you deserve a better ballot box Texas you deserve a more fair more
Texas you deserve a more fair more
Texas you deserve a more fair more accessible more secure more reliable
accessible more secure more reliable
accessible more secure more reliable democracy technology can give us a 21st
democracy technology can give us a 21st
democracy technology can give us a 21st century voting system right now but only
century voting system right now but only
century voting system right now but only if you demand it now is the time for
if you demand it now is the time for
if you demand it now is the time for democracy 2.0 there are two innovations
democracy 2.0 there are two innovations
democracy 2.0 there are two innovations which will change the way you cast your
which will change the way you cast your
which will change the way you cast your vote automatic voter registration and
vote automatic voter registration and
vote automatic voter registration and blockchain based virtual voting will
blockchain based virtual voting will
blockchain based virtual voting will revolutionize our elections Texas makes
revolutionize our elections Texas makes
revolutionize our elections Texas makes voter registration more difficult than
voter registration more difficult than
voter registration more difficult than any other state in the nation want to
any other state in the nation want to
any other state in the nation want to register to vote online just go to the
register to vote online just go to the
register to vote online just go to the Secretary of State’s website and fill
Secretary of State’s website and fill
Secretary of State’s website and fill out the form right not so fast
out the form right not so fast
out the form right not so fast after you fill out the form you have to
after you fill out the form you have to
after you fill out the form you have to print it you have to sign it in black or
print it you have to sign it in black or
print it you have to sign it in black or blue ink you have to put in an envelope
blue ink you have to put in an envelope
blue ink you have to put in an envelope put a stamp on it and drop in the mail
put a stamp on it and drop in the mail
put a stamp on it and drop in the mail oh and James don’t forget the deadline
oh and James don’t forget the deadline
oh and James don’t forget the deadline the most effective voter registration in
the most effective voter registration in
the most effective voter registration in Texas is done in person face to face by
Texas is done in person face to face by
Texas is done in person face to face by hand the same way dr. Martin Luther King
hand the same way dr. Martin Luther King
hand the same way dr. Martin Luther King registered voters in this
registered voters in this
registered voters in this right there but there is a better way in
right there but there is a better way in
right there but there is a better way in 2015
2015
2015 Oregon became the first state to pass
Oregon became the first state to pass
Oregon became the first state to pass automatic voter registration a V are
automatic voter registration a V are
automatic voter registration a V are revolutionising there’s their state
revolutionising there’s their state
revolutionising there’s their state civic health this common-sense law
civic health this common-sense law
civic health this common-sense law implemented through a robust interagency
implemented through a robust interagency
implemented through a robust interagency database registered 300,000 people in
database registered 300,000 people in
database registered 300,000 people in its first year and the results are
its first year and the results are
its first year and the results are astonishing in 2016 95 percent of those
astonishing in 2016 95 percent of those
astonishing in 2016 95 percent of those who registered by by AVR and voted in
who registered by by AVR and voted in
who registered by by AVR and voted in the 2016 election were first-time voters
the 2016 election were first-time voters
the 2016 election were first-time voters a VR increased the age racial and
a VR increased the age racial and
a VR increased the age racial and economic diversity of Oregon’s entire
economic diversity of Oregon’s entire
economic diversity of Oregon’s entire voting population tripling the number of
voting population tripling the number of
voting population tripling the number of 18 to 29 year olds
18 to 29 year olds
18 to 29 year olds since then a VR spread to 11 other
since then a VR spread to 11 other
since then a VR spread to 11 other states red states like Illinois blue
states red states like Illinois blue
states red states like Illinois blue states like Colorado registering
states like Colorado registering
states like Colorado registering millions and millions and millions of
millions and millions and millions of
millions and millions and millions of voters along the way here’s how it works
voters along the way here’s how it works
voters along the way here’s how it works imagine you’re a young mother living in
imagine you’re a young mother living in
imagine you’re a young mother living in Colorado going to the women infants and
Colorado going to the women infants and
Colorado going to the women infants and children’s office for a checkup
children’s office for a checkup
children’s office for a checkup when you arrive they ask you to verify
when you arrive they ask you to verify
when you arrive they ask you to verify your information you’ve moved since your
your information you’ve moved since your
your information you’ve moved since your last visit
last visit
last visit so you give them your new address you
so you give them your new address you
so you give them your new address you see your baby’s nutritionist then go
see your baby’s nutritionist then go
see your baby’s nutritionist then go about your way in a couple of weeks
about your way in a couple of weeks
about your way in a couple of weeks you’ll receive a postcard in the mail
notifying you that you’ve been
notifying you that you’ve been automatically registered to vote because
automatically registered to vote because
automatically registered to vote because of Colorado’s a VR system they’ve
of Colorado’s a VR system they’ve
of Colorado’s a VR system they’ve already checked your identity and
already checked your identity and
already checked your identity and they’ve they’ve verified your
they’ve they’ve verified your
they’ve they’ve verified your citizenship don’t want to be registered
citizenship don’t want to be registered
citizenship don’t want to be registered to vote check the opt-out box on the
to vote check the opt-out box on the
to vote check the opt-out box on the postcard and drop it in the mail no
postcard and drop it in the mail no
postcard and drop it in the mail no postage required it’s that easy a VR is
postage required it’s that easy a VR is
postage required it’s that easy a VR is available right now
available right now
available right now we have that technology all you have to
we have that technology all you have to
we have that technology all you have to do is ask for it
do is ask for it
do is ask for it Texas is not a red state or a blue state
Texas is not a red state or a blue state
Texas is not a red state or a blue state Texas is a non-voting state in 2016
Texas is a non-voting state in 2016
Texas is a non-voting state in 2016 over half of Texans eligible to vote
over half of Texans eligible to vote
over half of Texans eligible to vote didn’t even cast a ballot and 69% of
didn’t even cast a ballot and 69% of
didn’t even cast a ballot and 69% of them were registered to vote there are
them were registered to vote there are
them were registered to vote there are other barriers to voting in Texas and
other barriers to voting in Texas and
other barriers to voting in Texas and the next one technology must disrupt is
the next one technology must disrupt is
the next one technology must disrupt is the ballot box itself why do we insist
the ballot box itself why do we insist
the ballot box itself why do we insist on restricting participation in our
on restricting participation in our
on restricting participation in our elections by time place and location
elections by time place and location
elections by time place and location would you still use Facebook if we told
would you still use Facebook if we told
would you still use Facebook if we told you that you had to go to a kiosk at
you that you had to go to a kiosk at
you that you had to go to a kiosk at your public library between 7 a.m. and 7
your public library between 7 a.m. and 7
your public library between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. to post pictures of your cat I
p.m. to post pictures of your cat I
p.m. to post pictures of your cat I didn’t think so from paper ballots to
didn’t think so from paper ballots to
didn’t think so from paper ballots to punch button machines to hanging chads
punch button machines to hanging chads
punch button machines to hanging chads our election technology has evolved
our election technology has evolved
our election technology has evolved slowly many of our key of our County’s
slowly many of our key of our County’s
slowly many of our key of our County’s voting machines are so outdated that
voting machines are so outdated that
voting machines are so outdated that they’re basically like first generation
they’re basically like first generation
they’re basically like first generation iPads strapped onto Ataris some County
iPads strapped onto Ataris some County
iPads strapped onto Ataris some County election officials actually buy
election officials actually buy
election officials actually buy replacement parts off of ebay so when
replacement parts off of ebay so when
replacement parts off of ebay so when you voted last week for the Texas
you voted last week for the Texas
you voted last week for the Texas constitutional amendment election you
constitutional amendment election you
constitutional amendment election you did vote last week right you had to go
did vote last week right you had to go
did vote last week right you had to go to your assigned polling location
to your assigned polling location
to your assigned polling location between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. find parking wait in line maybe you
find parking wait in line maybe you
find parking wait in line maybe you didn’t have to wait in line
remember your voter ID sign and cast
remember your voter ID sign and cast your vote and go about your day
your vote and go about your day
your vote and go about your day imagine if you could log into a virtual
imagine if you could log into a virtual
imagine if you could log into a virtual voting system from your living room in
voting system from your living room in
voting system from your living room in September and cast your vote and you log
September and cast your vote and you log
September and cast your vote and you log out change your mind about a candidate
out change your mind about a candidate
out change your mind about a candidate or a ballot initiative log back in via
or a ballot initiative log back in via
or a ballot initiative log back in via your cell phone in October change your
your cell phone in October change your
your cell phone in October change your vote review your voting history and log
vote review your voting history and log
vote review your voting history and log back out then at 7 p.m. and one second
back out then at 7 p.m. and one second
back out then at 7 p.m. and one second on Election Day the system verifies your
on Election Day the system verifies your
on Election Day the system verifies your voter registration check your voter ID
voter registration check your voter ID
voter registration check your voter ID on file
on file
on file authenticate your password count your
authenticate your password count your
authenticate your password count your votes and announces the winner all
votes and announces the winner all
votes and announces the winner all within minutes you get an email to your
within minutes you get an email to your
within minutes you get an email to your inbox that verifies your vote and this
inbox that verifies your vote and this
inbox that verifies your vote and this can all happen because of the blockchain
can all happen because of the blockchain
can all happen because of the blockchain the blockchain is an automated
the blockchain is an automated
the blockchain is an automated distributed ledger system it’s the
distributed ledger system it’s the
distributed ledger system it’s the brains behind Bitcoin and etherium so if
brains behind Bitcoin and etherium so if
brains behind Bitcoin and etherium so if you’re new to blotching here’s a little
you’re new to blotching here’s a little
you’re new to blotching here’s a little bit about it when you cast your vote
bit about it when you cast your vote
bit about it when you cast your vote your your vote becomes protected like a
your your vote becomes protected like a
your your vote becomes protected like a mosquito trapped in amber that is a
mosquito trapped in amber that is a
mosquito trapped in amber that is a block as more votes come in your blocks
block as more votes come in your blocks
block as more votes come in your blocks stack on front of it and in layers then
stack on front of it and in layers then
stack on front of it and in layers then every few minutes the the system
every few minutes the the system
every few minutes the the system prêt compresses into one new block so if
prêt compresses into one new block so if
prêt compresses into one new block so if you want to hack the system and go
you want to hack the system and go
you want to hack the system and go change my vote you have to change it you
change my vote you have to change it you
change my vote you have to change it you have to hack into every single block
have to hack into every single block
have to hack into every single block before mine to get to my vote before the
before mine to get to my vote before the
before mine to get to my vote before the next compression happens and
next compression happens and
next compression happens and few minutes if you if you miss the
few minutes if you if you miss the
few minutes if you if you miss the timeline the system catches you
timeline the system catches you
timeline the system catches you quarantined the files and Flags it for
quarantined the files and Flags it for
quarantined the files and Flags it for human road review watching voting is
human road review watching voting is
human road review watching voting is already happening in Estonia and being
already happening in Estonia and being
already happening in Estonia and being tested in Great Britain with a
tested in Great Britain with a
tested in Great Britain with a burgeoning tech industry and
burgeoning tech industry and
burgeoning tech industry and cybersecurity city USA San Antonio
cybersecurity city USA San Antonio
cybersecurity city USA San Antonio should be leading the charge on
should be leading the charge on
should be leading the charge on blockchain democracy we can still have
blockchain democracy we can still have
blockchain democracy we can still have polling places for all of you out there
polling places for all of you out there
polling places for all of you out there that like to go stand in line on
that like to go stand in line on
that like to go stand in line on Election Day but for our generation for
Election Day but for our generation for
Election Day but for our generation for our generation this this is the new
our generation this this is the new
our generation this this is the new ballot box technology has changed the
ballot box technology has changed the
ballot box technology has changed the way we get around our city and
way we get around our city and
way we get around our city and communicate with our friends but
communicate with our friends but
communicate with our friends but technology has not changed the way we
technology has not changed the way we
technology has not changed the way we select our representatives yet now is
select our representatives yet now is
select our representatives yet now is the time to innovate our elections move
the time to innovate our elections move
the time to innovate our elections move San Antonio is doing this work every
San Antonio is doing this work every
San Antonio is doing this work every single day join us if our state actually
single day join us if our state actually
single day join us if our state actually had automatic voter registration I
had automatic voter registration I
had automatic voter registration I probably would have never met James last
probably would have never met James last
probably would have never met James last year I’ll never forget the look on his
year I’ll never forget the look on his
year I’ll never forget the look on his face as I was explaining our outdated
face as I was explaining our outdated
face as I was explaining our outdated photo registration law but we all know a
photo registration law but we all know a
photo registration law but we all know a James James might be our classmate our
James James might be our classmate our
James James might be our classmate our co-worker our friend you might be James
co-worker our friend you might be James
co-worker our friend you might be James so while we fight for automatic voter
so while we fight for automatic voter
so while we fight for automatic voter registration and block chain voting and
registration and block chain voting and
registration and block chain voting and suffrage for 16 and other election
suffrage for 16 and other election
suffrage for 16 and other election reforms go find your James help James
reforms go find your James help James
reforms go find your James help James register to vote get James to the polls
register to vote get James to the polls
register to vote get James to the polls because James democracy 2.0
because James democracy 2.0
because James democracy 2.0 depends on you
”
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