March 10, 2023
WASHINGTON— The America Votes Senior Leadership Team issued the following statement applauding the investments in election infrastructure in the White House’s FY2024 budget proposal:
“Secure elections are the cornerstone of American democracy. For years, local election administrators have delivered on the promise of safe and secure elections with underfunded offices despite undue scrutiny and threats from right-wing extremists. President Biden’s proposal to invest $5 billion in election infrastructure over the next 10 years will help to ensure that local election administrators have what they need to continue to count the ballots of every voter.
“Our democracy continues to be tested. This crucial investment, including over $1.6 billion recommended in the FY2024 budget, will help to provide much needed election infrastructure across the country and will help alleviate the cost of modernizing election equipment, paying for additional election staff, and providing accommodations for voters with disabilities to ensure safe, convenient, and accessible voting for all eligible voters. Congress must meet this funding request in order to protect voting rights and preserve confidence in our election systems.
“America Votes applauds President Biden’s commitment to strengthening our democracy and calls on Congress to support the President’s election infrastructure investment. Election administration is an essential service and America Votes will continue working to ensure that every eligible voter is able to make their voice heard and vote in a safe and convenient manner, whether they vote early, by mail, or on election day.”
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The America Votes Senior Leadership Team is comprised of: Greg Speed, President; Sara Schreiber, Executive Director; Daria Dawson, Deputy Executive Director & National Political Director; Heidi Schloesser, Chief Operating Officer; Daniel Gonzales, Director of Planning and Program Analysis; Evan Kost, National Director of Investor Strategy and Program Advisor; Shabab Siddiqui, Director of Data and Targeting; and Josiette White, National Field Director.
America Votes is the central coordination hub of the progressive community both nationally and in more than 20 states across the country, working with more than 400 state and national partner organizations to advance progressive policies, win elections, and protect every American’s right to vote.
December 7, 2022
CONTACT
emorrow@americavotes.org
Election Day for the Georgia runoff marks the conclusion of America Votes’ largest midterm voter mobilization effort ever. By the time polls closed, America Votes partners had knocked on more than 5.7 million doors yielding 1.4 million conversations in Georgia in a highly coordinated, four-week field campaign. Leading partner organizations in this effort included the Black Progressive Action Coalition (2.7 million doors), New Georgia Project Action Fund (nearly 800,000 doors), and Unite Here (more than 600,00 doors.) The coalition also made more than 2.5 million phone calls and sent over 3.5 million text messages to engage voters. To power this important work, America Votes directly invested more than $12 million in Georgia during the runoff campaign.
The America Votes Senior Leadership Team and Georgia Director issued the following statement today on the results of the 2022 Georgia runoff election:
“Georgians once again turned out in enormous numbers to re-elect their state’s first Black U.S. Senator, Rev. Raphael Warnock. The America Votes coalition did tremendous work to build the strong, multiracial coalition of voters that delivered this critical win for our democracy, our progressive values, and our fundamental rights- including the right to vote.
“This year’s elections in Georgia were again defined by high turnout, especially among Black voters, Hispanic voters, Asian voters, and young voters. This multiracial coalition’s turnout defied expectations and ensured that their voices were heard despite Republicans’ efforts to make voting more difficult.
“We are so proud of the work that our more than 30 partners in Georgia have accomplished to engage these communities around the enormous stakes and make sure they had the information they needed to vote. This coalition made over 15 million attempts to contact voters in Georgia since November 9. These attempts yielded millions of conversations and helped drive record-breaking turnout during several days of early voting.
“This is a crucial victory for the people of Georgia, for our country, and for democracy. It shows the power of organizing to engage and turn out voters and make an impact at the ballot box. As America Votes looks ahead to 2024, we will continue to build on what we have achieved in Georgia and key states across the country to engage a broad, multiracial and multigenerational coalition of voters to defy history and defend our democracy.”
Leslie Small is the America Votes Georgia State Director. The America Votes Senior Leadership Team is comprised of: Greg Speed, President; Sara Schreiber, Executive Director; Daria Dawson, Deputy Executive Director & National Political Director; Heidi Schloesser, Chief Operating Officer; Daniel Gonzales, Director of Planning and Program Analysis; Evan Kost, National Director of Investor Strategy and Program Advisor; Shabab Siddiqui, Director of Data and Targeting; and Josiette White, National Field Director.
America Votes is the central coordination hub of the progressive community both nationally and in more than 20 states across the country, working with more than 400 state and national partner organizations to advance progressive policies, win elections, and protect every American’s right to vote. The America Votes Georgia coalition includes over 30 partner organizations.