We Powered Democracy in 2025

On November 4, voters went to the polls in 34 states. From headline-making contests in New Jersey, New York, and Virginia to hundreds of local elections that shape daily life, Americans showed up with energy and purpose. And across that entire landscape, Democracy Works was the behind-the-scenes engine making participation possible.

In the final weeks before Election Day, Democracy Works sent 14.5 million TurboVote notifications that delivered the information voters needed to act: deadlines, ballot details, voting options, and clear guidance rooted in official data. Every message helped cut through noise and confusion. Every message reduced friction. Every message ensured that Americans were not just willing to vote, but able to vote.

But no single organization carries democracy on its own. Our work only succeeds because an entire ecosystem—election officials, civic groups, platforms, creators, and engaged citizens—moves in alignment. Democracy Works is the connective tissue, helping millions of voters navigate a complex system, but it is the broader community working together that makes every election day possible.

As we turn toward 2026, the lesson from this year is unmistakable. When trusted information flows, when partners collaborate, when technology and civic spirit work in tandem, voters show up. Democracy is collective work, and the more we build together, the stronger it becomes.

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The Road to November

While most of the country spent 2025 looking back at the lessons of 2024, Democracy Works was already preparing for the elections ahead. We know that democracy cannot wait for the national conversation to catch up. It requires infrastructure, trusted information, and voter support long before anyone starts paying attention.

As soon as we identify an election, our Research Team gets to work. They gather scattered, hyperlocal information, verify deadlines across thousands of jurisdictions, and determine where our coverage is needed most. These are election experts committed to giving every voter clear, accurate guidance. When we see at least 100 TurboVote users in a smaller jurisdiction, we often expand our coverage because voters everywhere deserve the same access.

In 2025, this work powered more than 3,300 elections across the country. And it did more than inform voters—it helped drive participation. TurboVote users consistently turn out at significantly higher rates than comparable voters, proving that trusted guidance delivered at the right moment can move people from intention to action.

While many are only beginning to think about 2026, we are already tracking hundreds of federal, state, and local races, and preparing the information voters will need. The United States has a deeply decentralized voting information system. That reality makes our role essential; we pull together thousands of pieces of data so voters do not have to.

We were ready for 2025 when few others were watching. And we are preparing for 2026 now because that is what sustaining a healthy democracy requires.

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Making 21st-Century Democracy Happen

At Democracy Works, we are building tech-forward election infrastructure and equipping Americans with digital tools to participate in 2026 and beyond. In the AI age, the voting information ecosystem is strong only if it is accurate, and that is what we do best. 

What will this look like next year? Meeting voters where they are—on their phones—while acting as a firewall against false and misleading information, particularly as more political campaigns experiment with generative AI to communicate with and influence voters. Bringing our democracy into the AI age does not mean that we have to—or should—compromise the integrity of online voting information. Our past collaboration with AI platforms Perplexity and Anthropic provides a model for delivering accurate, official election information without sacrificing the convenience these tools offer. 

Our partners, from nonprofit organizations to large tech platforms, bring our people-powered work to scale. Without Democracy Works, these partners would be forced to rely on voting information that is either difficult to access or often incorrect, significantly raising the chances of misleading voters and weakening the reliability of the online information space.

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Stepping Up in 2026

Across the country, voters are already looking toward 2026. The enthusiasm is real, but so are the demands it will place on a system that is already stretched thin. Without a strong, coordinated ecosystem behind them, voters will face confusion, misinformation, and barriers that prevent participation.

Democracy Works is one of the pieces that holds that system together. We connect information that would otherwise remain fragmented, reduce friction for millions of voters, and give partners the dependable backbone they need to reach their communities. With our support, turnout is stronger and confidence is higher. Without it, the cracks show immediately. That quiet stability is what keeps the entire civic landscape functioning.

As 2026 approaches, one truth stands out. If organizations like Democracy Works are not operating at full strength, the system falters. If we are aligned and prepared, voters succeed. The strength of democracy in the year ahead depends on that alignment.