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From cutting-edge policy research to illuminating analysis, we bring a racial equity lens to the most pressing issues facing our country. For our latest blog posts and media updates, visit our Media page.

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Cover of 'Solving the Affordability Crisis' by People's Action and Dēmos: a rising staircase of icons representing groceries, health care, energy, housing, and child care, each topped with dollar bills."

Solving the Affordability Crisis

The affordability crisis is the result of policy choices — and different choices can reverse it. This report from Dēmos and People's Action traces why housing, utilities, food, health care, and child care have become unaffordable, and five structural solutions for building a people-powered, racially just economy.

Policy Briefs
Demos
People's Action
A Black care worker in scrubs reviews a clipboard with an older Black woman seated on a couch. In the background, composite images show caregivers working with children and supporting elderly adults, overlaid with illustrated icons representing justice, economic opportunity, and care.

Empowering Care Workers: The Key to a Better Care Economy

Good care jobs are the foundation of a good care economy. Empowering care workers through better pay, stronger protections, and collective voice would improve care quality, reduce workforce shortages, and advance racial and economic equity.

Policy Briefs
Nick Wertsch
Row of empty voting booths in a school gym

Missing Voters: The Real Threat to Alabama's Democracy

More than 815,000 Alabamians are missing from the electoral process. In this report, Stand Up Mobile, Dēmos, and Southern Coalition for Social Justice examine who's missing, why, and what Alabama must do to fix it.

Research
Beverly Cooper
Dustin Tyler Broughton
Keshia Morris Desir
Jens Manuel Krogstad
Lucy Krueger
Sarah Ovaska

Challenges Facing Public Assistance Agencies: Testimony of Lisa J. Danetz

Testimony delivered by Democracy Program Counsel Lisa J. Danetz before the Committee on House Administration, Subcommittee on Elections United States House of Representatives on April 1, 2008.
Testimony and Public Comment
Lisa J. Danetz

NVRA Testimony Before the House Subcommittee on Elections

Testimony of Demos Counsel Lisa J. Danetz before the United States House of Representatives Subcommittee on Elections on the challenges the National Voter Registration Act presents to public assistance agencies.

Testimony and Public Comment
Lisa J. Danetz

Election Day Voter Registration in Massachusetts

We have analyzed the likely impact of adoption of Election Day Registration (EDR) by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Policy Briefs
Jonathan Nagler

Stuart Comstock-Gay's EDR Testimony Before the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee

Testimony of Demos Democracy Program Director Stuart Comstock-Gay before the Nebraska Legislature's Government, Military, and Veterans' Affairs on Election Day Registration.
Testimony and Public Comment

Letter Submitted to Judiciary Committee for 2/26/08 Hearing on Voter Suppression

Committee notified of suppressive tactics implicit in state noncompliance with NVRA Section 7. 
Testimony and Public Comment
Miles Rapoport
Maxine Nelson

Economic (In)Security: The Experience of the African-American and Latino Middle Classes

As the next installment in the By a Thread series, Economic (In)Security uses the Middle Class Security Index to provide the first comprehensive portrait of the level of financial security enjoyed by African-American and Latino middle-class families. The findings show that, in the wake of fading
Research
Tamara Draut
Jennifer Wheary
Thomas M. Shapiro
Tatjana Meschede

Unequal Access: Neglecting the National Voter Registration Act, 1995-2007

Twelve years since the enactment of the NVRA, states across the country have regularly failed to comply with public assistance voter registration requirements.

Policy Briefs
Doug Hess
Scott Novakowski

Restoring Contribution Limits: Testimony of Brenda Wright

Testimony of Demos' Democracy Program Legal Director on restoring contribution limits in Vermont, delivered before the Vermont House Government Operations Committee on February 5, 2008.

Testimony and Public Comment
Brenda Wright

Election Day Registration in Nebraska

By passing EDR legislation, Nebraska would be taking a major step towards expanding access to the democratic process to all Nebraskans.

Testimony and Public Comment
Stuart Comstock-Gay

In the Red or In the Black? Understanding the Relationship Between Household Debt and Assets

In the Red or In the Black? looks at whether household savings serve to protect families from incurring unsecured debt, and in turn, whether the presence of unsecured debt acts as a barrier to savings and wealth accumulation.
Research
Jose Garcia