VPC, CVI, and Georgia NAACP Partner on Georgia Voter Campaign Ahead of Senate Runoffs

Organizations work together to increase voter turnout ahead of January 5 runoffs, as it regularly dips during special elections.

November 20, 2020 — The non-partisan and non-profit Voter Participation Center (VPC) and the Center for Voter Information (CVI) are partnering with the Georgia NAACP on a massive campaign to increase voter turnout ahead of Georgia’s January Senate runoff elections.

In partnership with VPC and CVI, the Georgia NAACP will send about 1.8 million vote-by-mail mailings to eligible voters in Georgia. Over the coming weeks, VPC and CVI will send an additional 19.4 million mailings into the state, along with online voter registration outreach prior to the state’s December 7 deadline. The overall voter campaign in Georgia will include:

  • Direct mail to more than 2 million eligible voters in the state, encouraging early in-person voting once the early voting period begins on December 14.
  • Direct mail to 2.4 million voters who did or did not vote in the general election, encouraging early voting in late December and in-person on Election Day.
  • Direct mail to roughly 65,000 people encouraging voter registration by young people who turn 18 years old between January 1, 2020, and January 5, 2021.

“We are excited to partner with VPC and CVI during this critical time in election history. It’s imperative that we reach all Black voters in Georgia because we know when Black people vote, it changes lives,” said Reverend James “Major” Woodall, State President of Georgia NAACP.

“Despite challenges created by the pandemic, misinformation and other confusion, millions of Georgia voters – especially Black voters – showed up and decided the presidential election in the Peach State,” said Tom Lopach, President and CEO of VPC and CVI. “We know there is more work to do to reach voters ahead of these consequential runoff elections, when turnout typically shrinks. Together with the Georgia NAACP, we are working to get the necessary information and tools in the hands of eligible voters, especially Black and Brown voters, young people and unmarried women who are historically shut out of our democratic process. There is too much at stake for anyone to sit on the sidelines, and we are confident we can again help empower people in Georgia to elect our nation’s leaders.”

Voter turnout skyrocketed in 2020, with more than 100 million people voting early around the country – despite challenges created by the pandemic. Throughout the year, VPC and CVI expanded their mail-based and digital programming to fill the voter engagement gaps caused by the COVID-19 crisis. The organizations helped 1.6 million Americans register to vote nationwide this election cycle, and helped generate more than 4.6 million unique vote-by-mail ballot applications. In Georgia, VPC and CVI generated more than 115,000 voter registration applications, and nearly 575,000 vote-by-mail ballot applications. Voter response to VPC’s and CVI’s programming in Georgia far exceeded the margin of the state’s deciding votes in the presidential election.

More than 2.4 million people who can vote in Georgia are not yet registered, according to the U.S. Census, and 73% of them are members of the New American Majority: young people, people of color and unmarried women. VPC and CVI primarily send mailings to members of the New American Majority, many of whom have historically been under-represented in our democracy, often move between elections, and register and vote at lower rates than the rest of the population.

Since 2003, VPC and CVI have helped register more than 5.6 million voters nationally. VPC and CVI mail registration applications to unregistered individuals, along with pre-addressed envelopes to make it easy to send completed forms directly to local election officials. They also send vote-by-mail ballot applications to registered voters listed on state voter files, to encourage safe voting from home. VPC and CVI provide samples of mailings ahead of time to top state election officials, to ensure the groups comply with all state laws. The organizations also provide in-depth information about their programs online.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has had an unbroken presence in Georgia since 1917. The Georgia NAACP maintains a network of units throughout Georgia, from cities to small rural counties. The Georgia NAACP has been the most effective and consistent advocate for African American civil rights in Georgia. You can read more about the Georgia NAACP’s work and mission at naacpga.org.

The Voter Participation Center and Center for Voter Information are non-profit, non-partisan organizations founded in 2003 to help members of the New American Majority – unmarried women, people of color and young people – register and vote. Since then, the organizations have helped more than 5.6 million people register and cast ballots.