New Georgia Project says it’s registered close to 30,000 new voters
Oct. 4 is the deadline for Georgians to register to vote in the November general election. One voting rights organization has been banking on a younger block of voters to reach their 30,000 registrations goal.
The New Georgia Project tells WABE’s “All Things Considered” host Jim Burress that its work meeting young people where they are — with lighthearted, block-party style events — has helped those registration numbers tally up. NGP officials say they don’t ask anyone about party affiliation, and conversations are more focused on issues like climate action and voter suppression.
But even though the events are meant to be lighthearted, they’ve yielded some serious results. The latest 2020 data from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission estimates that out of nearly 7.5 million Georgians eligible to vote, about 95% are actively registered.
Officials also say the passing of Georgia’s GOP-pushed new voting law might have motivated more voter registration.
But young people are also skeptical, especially in Georgia, says Keron Blair, the New Georgia Project’s chief organizing and field officer. The question he gets most often? “Why should I vote?”
When he spoke recently with Burress, he started with how he typically responds to a seemingly simple, but complex question.
GEORGIA VOTERS: Local elections are right around the corner! Remember to register to vote by 🚨 Monday, October 4 🚨 to ensure you’re eligible to vote in your local elections this fall.
Check your registration TODAY at https://t.co/Jg4o6JBUV1. #gapol
— Fair Fight (@fairfightaction) September 30, 2021
If you’re not sure if you’re correctly registered to vote, or kicked off the rolls, you can check your status here before the end of business day on Oct. 4 to find out.
Lily Oppenheimer contributed to this report.
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