What if the biggest threat to American democracy isn’t who wins—but just how few of us actually vote?

In this eye-opening episode of Unconventional Times, host Richard Gordon sits down with Tom Lopach, President and CEO of the Voter Participation Center and the Center for Voter Information. Together, they dig into the shocking reality that less than a third of eligible Americans actually vote for the president—revealing just how much power is left on the table and who’s really getting left out of the process.

You'll discover why vast swaths of women, young people, and minorities are missing from the polls, and how Tom Lopach’s organizations are using massive direct mail and digital campaigns to close that gap—sometimes sending as many as 370 million pieces of mail in a single election!

Key highlights from this episode:

• Why unmarried women, young people, and minorities vote at much lower rates—and the data behind these trends

• The nuts and bolts of high-volume voter outreach: direct mail breakthroughs, digital impressions, and the science behind what actually motivates someone to register (spoiler: black-and-white mail gets more attention than color!)

• A candid discussion about the fine line between “voter shaming” and effective civic engagement

• How new laws, rampant redistricting, and political purging are shifting the landscape—and why that’s so dangerous

• Tom Lopach’s inside perspective, from serving in the Senate and running for office, on what it will really take for political parties—especially Democrats—to win back “lost” states like Montana

If you care about the future of American democracy, this conversation is a must-listen.

Episode Timestamped Overview:

• [00:00:01] – Introduction and shocking U.S. voting stats;

  Tom Lopach’s mission to drive turnout

• [00:02:19] – What do the Voter Participation Center and Center for Voter Information actually do?

• [00:03:53] – Explaining 501(c)(3) vs. 501(c)(4) voter groups

• [00:05:13] – Why focus on unmarried women—and how voting rates break along demographic lines

• [00:07:51] – The surprising effectiveness of black-and-white direct mail outreach

• [00:08:39] – Behavioral science and making voting accessible (reading level, font choice, targeted outreach)

• [00:10:24] – The step-by-step process for helping people register (and who gets targeted)

• [00:12:14] – Does direct mail still work on young people? The truth about digital vs. physical outreach

• [00:13:19] – The infamous “voting report card” and why social pressure spikes turnout

• [00:17:00] – How moving states and voter roll databases create registration chaos

• [00:18:56] – Nonpartisan vs. partisan perceptions—and

  Tom Lopach's pivot from politics to public service

• [00:21:23] – What is the “New American Majority” and why does it matter?

• [00:27:18] – Voter suppression, registration fluctuations, and the political fight over who gets to participate

• [00:29:31] – Hot takes: voter ID, same-day registration, nonpartisan registration, mandatory voting

• [00:36:38] – Do alternative voting systems (ranked-choice, nonpartisan elections) actually help?

• [00:38:02] – The debate over purging voter rolls and “cleaning up” the electorate

• [00:41:00] – Why Americans are disillusioned with government—and how to restore trust

• [00:46:14] – The surprising role of immigrants and naturalized citizens in boosting turnout

• [00:49:08] – Redistricting, gerrymandering, and the shattering of political norms

• [00:52:11] – Insider insights: What will it take for Democrats to flip states? States to watch in upcoming elections

• [00:57:22] – The evolution of Montana politics: why states flip from blue to red, and can they flip back?

• [01:01:12] – Final thoughts: Voting is patriotism in action—here’s how you can help

Don’t just listen—share this episode and help make voting a priority for everyone you know.