In this episode of The BoricuaBC2 Show, host Bill Cancel is joined by Andrea Hailey, one of the largest nonpartisan voter engagement organizations in the United States. The conversation explores why millions of eligible Americans do not vote, the myths surrounding voter participation, and how access, technology, and trust shape modern elections. Andrea shares firsthand insights into voter suppression, misinformation, and the systems that either encourage or discourage democratic participation.

 

Andrea Hailey is the Chief Executive Officer of Vote.org, where she leads nationwide efforts to register voters, provide accurate election information, expand ballot access, and combat voter suppression. A leading voting rights advocate, Andrea brings deep experience in civic engagement, election policy, and nonprofit leadership, working at the intersection of democracy, technology, and public trust.

 

Expect to Learn

• The most common reasons eligible Americans do not vote
• How voter access and voter security are often framed as being in conflict
• Why myths like “my vote doesn’t matter” persist
• How early voting, same-day registration, and election-day holidays impact turnout
• The role of technology in combating misinformation while protecting election integrity
• Why local elections often matter more than national races
• How misinformation and disinformation threaten voter confidence
• Practical ways individuals and organizations can support voter participation
  
  

Episode Breakdown with Timestamps

• [00:00] - Introduction and welcome to Andrea Hailey
• [02:02] - Why eligible Americans fail to vote
• [04:22] - Mandatory voting and lessons from Australia
• [06:15] - Election security vs voter access
• [12:06] - Leadership, myths, and public trust
• [15:28] - Technology’s role in election access and rapid response
• [26:33] - Disinformation and misinformation campaigns and deepfakes
• [29:15] - How media and podcasts can support democracy
• [31:45] - Closing thoughts and continued civic engagement

 

Follow the Guest, Andrea: 

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-hailey/ 
• Company’s Website: https://www.vote.org/ 
• Company’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/votedotorg/ 

 

Follow the Host, Bill Cancel

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cancelbill/ 
• Website: https://www.theboricuabc2show.com/ 
• BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boricuabc2.bsky.social

Listening Links:

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0j6soWAazqs8DJTJJ9FsZr
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-boricuabc2-show/id1802890213
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Boricuabc2