Voting Information Project Seeks New Home
Market analysis will help gauge interest, identify appropriate options
Last September, the Voting Information Project (VIP) announced that it was beginning a process to identify its next phase, as The Pew Charitable Trusts transitions away from elections work.
As part of that effort, VIP identified a group of stakeholders from the elections, civic tech and data, and academic communities that has been discussing how best to continue the project’s success in partnering with election officials, businesses, and organizations to deliver vital information to voters across the nation.
In January, the group sought feedback from the field and was impressed by the depth and breadth of the enthusiasm for VIP and its continued work on behalf of voters.
Today, we wanted to share an update on where the project stands and what happens next:
The stakeholders’ group is finalizing a set of principles that will lay out the future vision for the Voting Information Project, including the work to be done and the desired characteristics of a new home for the project.
Those principles will be shared with the field, including on this blog, as part of a formal invitation for parties to indicate their interest in acting as the next home for VIP.
Based on those responses, Pew expects to identify and transition to that new home in time for the 2018 elections.
In preparation, Pew is working to identify the value of VIP to the field, both historically and going forward, by conducting a market analysis for the project’s continued operation. A Request for Information seeking firms that can conduct that analysis is available here. We will keep posting updates as the selection process for VIP’s new home moves ahead.
This process has us excited about what’s next for the Voting Information Project, and we can’t wait to hear from those of you who are interested in continuing the mission of serving America’s voters.
Alexis Schuler is the senior director for state campaigns at The Pew Charitable Trusts.
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