Civic Engagement: Ways You Can Help

There are 159 counties in Georgia – and today marks 159 days before the general elections on Nov. 6, 2018. Only 159 days to turn out progressives in each one of those counties – and all our municipalities, districts, and every other jurisdiction. And probably every progressive candidate will tell you: it is key – in fact, absolutely necessary – to register new voters, particularly voters that reflect the ever-diversifying population of our southern state. Here are a few opportunities in June to do exactly that, from a number of organizations. Courtesy of our friends at Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta, Georgia WAND, Let America Vote, Spread the Vote, and New American Pathways.

ABLE (Atlantans Building Leadership for Empowerment) is dedicating the next 5 months, in the leadup to the general elections, to canvas and speak with communities around issues directly impacting working families, like criminal justice – all while simultaneously activating voter participation. In other words, by directly engaging people on the issues that most impact them, this canvas will empower and encourage them to vote.

The primaries are May 22 - and New American Pathways (NAP) is conducting voter registration, phone banking, and door-to-door canvassing.

With 2018 Primary Elections are right around the corner, join Advancing Justice - Atlanta and the Georgia Immigrant Alliance for Civic Empowerment as they engage and mobilize voters in immigrant communities and communities of color across Metro Atlanta - from now until May 22.

Spread the Vote seeks volunteers to help eligible voters acquire photo ID. Volunteers are needed for upcoming tabling events in Metro Atlanta, in May.

New Georgia Project continues its "18 in 2018" drive to register eligible high school voters, while New American Pathways and ProGeorgia are each hosting numerous voter registration trainings.

Georgia is one of 20 states that require a photo ID to vote. 21 million eligible voters in America do not have government-issued photo ID. Of those 21 million, the majority fall into one of the following four categories: people of color, low income, elderly, and young. For many, these categories intersect. Spread The Vote’s mission: help every single American obtain the ID they need to participate in our democracy.

Every vote in this state matters - particularly in statewide races. The Democratic Party of Georgia (DPG) is spearheading an effort to turnout rural voters in the May 22 primary, and to build long-term capacity in other areas of the state with untapped potential for turnout.

DPG will be hosting trainings in select counties. The purpose is to assist local volunteers and leaders to begin building outreach and turnout infrastructure. Training will cover vote by mail, phone banking, how to utilize the Secretary of State's My Voter Page, hustle, and building out "rides to the polls" programs.