FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, June 23, 2021
Contact: Ashlynn Profit — [email protected]
(Washington, D.C.): Today, Stephanie L. Young, Executive Director of When We All Vote, a leading voting organization committed to increasing participation in every election, joined Vice President Kamala Harris and leading advocates from across the country to discuss the path forward on protecting and expanding voting rights. Yesterday, Senate Republicans filibustered the For The People Act, one of the most important ways to stop voter suppression at the state level and enact national standards for voting.
“When We All Vote was proud to join Vice President Harris in a conversation about a path forward in protecting and strengthening our democracy. In 2020, young people and people of color turned out in droves to protest, march and vote for the issues that matter most to them. Now, in this fight for our democracy, they continue to lead. Black, Brown, and young voter’s voices must be front and center as we strive to reach more Americans who are not already a part of this conversation. When We All Vote will continue to work tirelessly to change the culture around voting, especially amongst young voters and voters of color, and pressure our elected officials to support legislation that protects every American’s right to vote and puts the power in the hands of the people. ” said Young.
On Tuesday, following the Senate vote, Young released a statement reiterating When We All Vote’s commitment to passing legislation to protect voting rights. On Monday, When We All Vote partnered with Vote.org, the Declaration for American Democracy Coalition (DFAD) and more than 80 of the country’s leading corporations in calling on the Senate to pass the For the People Act. The business leaders, representing Patagonia, ICM, ClassPass, Tumblr, Ben & Jerry’s and more, penned a letter to the Senate urging them to pass this landmark legislation, and called on more businesses to join the fight for fair and accessible elections.
As a result of When We All Vote’s efforts during the 2020 election season:
- More than 512,000 started or completed the voter registration process.
- Volunteers sent more than 15.3 million text messages to 7.3 million eligible voters.
- More than 113,000 people joined a virtual #CouchParty with DJ D-Nice.
- Nearly 500 media, corporate and non-profit organizations partnered with When We All Vote.
- 52 professional sports teams and leagues joined When We All Vote as part of the Rally the Vote coalition.
- Over 26,300 people were trained as Voting Squad Captains leading registration and turnout efforts in their communities.
- More than 13,000 people signed up to be poll workers recruited by When We All Vote.
- 21,000 students and educators have signed up for the My School Votes program.
- Over 143,000 people posted about their #VotingSquad to get their friends and family out to the polls.
- 100 bipartisan mayors committed to increasing voter participation by joining Civic Cities.
- More than 60 organizations partnered for in-person, socially distanced activations across the country including food and voter registration drives and early vote celebrations at polling places.
ABOUT When We All Vote:
When We All Vote is a leading national, nonpartisan initiative on a mission to change the culture around voting and to increase participation in each and every election by helping to close the race and age gap. Created by Michelle Obama, When We All Vote brings together individuals, institutions, brands, and organizations to register new voters across the country and advance civic education for the entire family and voters of every age to build an informed and engaged electorate for today and generations to come. We empower our supporters and volunteers to take action through voting, advocating for their rights, and holding their elected officials accountable.
In 2020, When We All Vote ran a robust, multifaceted campaign and reached more than 100 million people to educate them about the voting process and get them registered and ready to vote. The initiative also led in voter education, registration, and volunteer engagement and as a result, 512,000 people started or completed the voter registration process, and nearly 500 media, corporate, and nonprofit partners joined its efforts.
Michelle Obama launched When We All Vote in 2018 and is joined by fellow Co-Chairs Tom Hanks, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Janelle Monáe, Chris Paul, Faith Hill, Selena Gomez, Liza Koshy, Megan Rapinoe, Shonda Rhimes, Tracee Ellis Ross, Kerry Washington, and Rita Wilson.
When We All Vote is a key initiative within Civic Nation, a 501(c)(3) organization, and works with Civic Nation Action, a 501(c)(4). These organizations are homes for changemakers who inspire, educate, and activate people around the issues that will define this generation.
ABOUT Civic Nation:
Civic Nation is a nonpartisan, nonprofit home for changemakers who inspire, educate, and activate people around the issues that will define this generation. Civic Nation empowers and educates individuals, companies, institutions and organizations to drive culture, systems and policy change, working towards a more inclusive and equitable America. Six initiatives are a part of the Civic Nation family: When We All Vote, United State of Women, ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, End Rape On Campus, It’s On Us and Made to Save.
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