InvestigateTV - InvestigateTV and Pro-Publica report on efforts to help low-literacy voters cast their ballots. Plus, minors in the custody of metro Atlanta’s Division of Family and Children services are running away, falling victim to sex trafficking. We investigate the dangerous situations they end up in when on the run. Also, homeowners losing their houses to unpaid taxes, but why is the county the top purchaser? Finally, Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa talks to an expert about the importance of getting a will. WHERE TO WATCH
ICYMI – Watch last week’s episode.
Right to Read: For the millions of Americans faced with literacy challenges, election day can be intimidating as they try to understand ballots, leading many to potentially pass on the polls. According to research from our partners at ProPublica, if low-literacy counties had turnout similar to high-literacy counties in 2016, 2018 and 2020 elections, they could have added up to 7 million votes nationally each of those years, potentially shifting election outcomes. We speak with East and West Coast grass roots advocates working with voters who can’t read. They tell us about the roadblocks they face from local election commissions, changing voting provisions and even ID requirements that target low-literacy groups. We’ll also talk to experts about how to improve the election process for low-literacy voters and the steps being taken to work with states to make ballots more accessible. Children Running Away from State Care: Georgia’s foster care system is overburdened. Minors are living in family and child services offices, kids are sleeping on blow up mattresses and there are reports of fighting, stealing and drug use. We investigate what happens when these teens run away and find themselves in even more danger. Homeowners Left Homeless: At the height of the pandemic the federal government issued eviction and foreclosure moratoriums. People could not be kicked out for missing rent or mortgage payments, but they could lose their homes for unpaid taxes. In Tennessee’s Shelby County, thousands of properties hit the auction block. Our station in Memphis, along with the University of Memphis’ Institute for Public Service Reporting, dug into the ongoing sales and you might be surprised by who was buying all the properties.Watching Your Wallet: According to a recent survey from Caring.com, only 33% of Americans have an estate plan. In this Watching Your Wallet, Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa talks with experts about why creating a will should be a top priority.
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