Increasing Student Voter Registration Using a Face-to-Face v.s. Policy Change Approach

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By shifting from a face-to-face approach to a policy change strategy, the organization focused on amending the Higher Education Act of 2017 to streamline student voter registration during university enrollment. This strategic amendment resulted in a significant increase in student registration levels, with one fresher's sign-on increasing from 13% to 76%. Moreover, the cost per registration for the local authority saw a drastic reduction from five pounds per student to 12 pence per student. By leveraging data and aligning with key stakeholders, such as conservative councils, the organization successfully navigated the policy change process. The approach proved that appealing to stakeholders' interests, such as cost-saving, was crucial in gaining support. Ultimately, the strategic policy change was nationally implemented, showcasing the effectiveness of a systematic approach in driving significant outcomes.

Michael Sani founded Bite the Ballot (BTB), an organization in the UK that mobilizes young people to vote. BTB started as an idea in one classroom and grew into a national movement. At a national election in 2014, over 400,000 people registered to vote via BTB's platform. For the BREXIT referendum, that number was 1.9 million. The organization also promoted a number of policy changes that made voter registration easier for young people. Each step of the journey required Michael to assume a different role, including teacher, organizational developer, campaigner, advocate, network builder, and others. In the interview, Michael walks us through his thought process of why he decided to transition from one role to another, as well as the difficulties and conflicts that these decisions entailed. He also highlights the importance of personal development and letting go of "ego" in order to have more impact on a systems level. Key questions explored in this episode include : How do you decide which role you should play as a social entrepreneur? What is the relationship between systems change, personal development, and well-being?