On October 5, Democracy Works sent 1 million TurboVote notifications to voters across 10 states. Each notification gave voters a personalized link to view their Election Guide for the upcoming midterms, which includes sample ballots and voting locations.
Across all TurboVote subscribers who engaged with the notifications we sent, 36% researched what's on their ballot, 16% looked up where to vote, and 5% clicked the links to share their election guide with someone else.
In the data this week, two states stood out with notable levels of voter engagement beyond the average: New Hampshire and Kansas.
New Hampshire led the way. Half of the TurboVote subscribers in New Hampshire who engaged with a notification researched what’s on their ballot within 48 hours, making them 39% more likely than TurboVote subscribers in this group of 10 states to research what's on their ballot (50% vs. 36%).
Older voters in New Hampshire are especially engaged
Digging deeper into the audience of engaged subscribers in New Hampshire, we found that those aged 65 and older were 80% more likely than TurboVote subscribers overall to research what's on their ballot, with nearly two-thirds reviewing sample ballots within 48 hours of receiving a notification (65% vs. 36%).
Older voters have long been among the most reliable voters in the country. This data shows that in New Hampshire, they're also among the most prepared. For organizations serving older adults, this can be a reminder that digital tools are an effective way to reach this audience.
Kansas voters are bringing others along
In Kansas, we found that voters were 59% more likely than TurboVote subscribers overall to share their election guide (7.3% vs. 4.6%).
Every shared guide puts trusted voting information in front of a friend, family member or coworker who might not have gone looking for it. Combined with their higher rate of ballot research, Kansas voters aren't just getting ready themselves. They're helping the people around them get ready too.
Employers can be trusted messengers for voting information
Kansas voters who signed up for TurboVote through their employer were 31% more likely than TurboVote users overall to look up where to vote (21% vs. 16%).
Last week, we saw that Texas voters who heard from a nonprofit were more likely to research their ballot. This week's Kansas data points to a similar pattern. When voting information comes from a trusted source, like a workplace, voters may be more likely to act.
As with any comparison like this, we can't say the employer connection caused the difference in voter engagement. But it shows that workplaces can play a meaningful role in helping people get ready to vote. Through Civic Alliance, we are proud to partner with over 2,200 major US companies who are committed to promoting civic engagement with initiatives that include offering employees access to TurboVote, time off to vote policies, and more.
How New Hampshire and Kansas compare
New Hampshire had the highest ballot research rate of the 10 states we notified last week, and Kansas ranked fourth. Both states have Senate races rated as competitive on the ballot, and Kansas’s governor’s race is competitive too.
But competitive races were not a clear predictor of voter engagement. Despite having no competitive-rated statewide races, West Virginia (45%) outpaced Kansas (43%) in terms of voter engagement in reviewing sample ballots. Oregon has a competitive governor’s race, but had the lowest ballot research rate of the group at 19%.
The takeaway: a high-profile ballot can draw attention, but it doesn't predict how engaged voters will be. That's why we work to help voters in every state find election information, not just those in the headlines. Whether a state has a toss-up Senate race or not, every voter deserves clear, accurate information about what's on their ballot and where to vote.
What's next
Two weeks in, the pattern is holding: voters want to understand what's on their ballot, and trusted messengers, from nonprofits to employers, help them get there.
With Election Day on November 3 just weeks away, we'll keep sharing how voters are engaging with information and making plans to vote. Stay tuned!
About the data
All figures reflect engaged TurboVote subscribers who received election notifications on October 5, 2026. "More likely" figures compare rates between groups (for example, 50% is 39% higher than 36%). Analysis shows differences in behavior, not cause and effect.
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