Strengthening democracy by lessening voter suppression w/ VoterRiders CEO Lauren Kunis (S05E06)

We Can Be podcast - The Heinz Endowments

VoteRiders CEO and Executive Director Lauren Kunis is clear about what is at stake when it comes to those who are using false claims of voter fraud as the basis for enacting overly stringent voter ID laws. The laws affect 35 million voting-age citizens – a majority of whom are first-time voters, low-income residents, people of color and/or differently abled.

“Those who are already underrepresented in our electorate are most harmed and most disproportionately impacted by voter ID laws,” Lauren tells “We Can Be” host and Endowments President Chris DeCardy. “These laws are undermining our shared democracy and impacting all voters, not just ones from certain states or specific communities.”

Santa Monica, California-based VoteRiders is a non-partisan, nonprofit organization with a mission to ensure that all citizens can exercise their freedom to vote, with team members or partner organizations in 44 states and more than 10,000 volunteers across the country.

A fair, accessible voting experience is critical for the more than 162 million people expected to participate in the fall 2024 election. VoteRiders – whose names honors the civil rights-era Freedom Riders – focuses its efforts not only on civic engagement and voter ID laws, but also touches on economic, social and racial equity for the thousands it helps navigate the voter ID system every day.

“That ID helps them vote, but it's also a way for them to open a bank account for the first time or get a job in the formal sector or get more stable housing for their family,” Lauren says.

Prior to taking the helm at VoteRiders, Lauren’s leadership experience included work on international democracy and governance programs while with the World Bank and time as national program director at Nonprofit Vote, where she led her team to a record-setting number of voter registrations on voter registration day in 2020.

With nearly 40 states now requiring steps beyond simply registering to vote, some states rejecting student IDs as acceptable for voting, and the promise of false claims about election fraud, VoterRiders is leading the charge for lessening voter suppression and strengthening our democracy.

“We Can Be” is hosted by Heinz Endowments President Chris DeCardy, and produced by the Endowments, Josh Franzos and Tim Murray. Theme music by Josh Slifkin. Host photo by Josh Franzos; guest photo courtesy of Lauren Kunis/VoteRiders. Guest inquiries may be made to Scott Roller at [e-mail].