Updates from our grassroots partners
The mid-term election begins when ballots are mailed in early October. Our partner groups mobilized for the primary and they are already planning, hiring and continuing their outreach to build voter turnout this fall. They–and we–aren’t waiting until November to get busy!
The Dolores Huerta Action Fund (Kern County)
Spring and fall: The Dolores Huerta Action Fund (DHAF) used various strategies to stimulate voter participation in the June primary election, including voter registration, phone banking, door to door canvassing, and volunteer recruitment. Canvassers, volunteers, Vecinos Unidos members, and staff reached 9,808 voters to get out the vote. Heading into November, direct voter contact will have vital importance, especially in the 10-plus days immediately following the ballot drop on October 10, and in post-election ballot-curing efforts.
Valley Forward (Tulare and Kings Counties)
Summer and fall: Valley Forward (VF) is pairing CVM’s funding with additional resources from nationwide funders to increase voter turnout in Tulare and Kings Counties. VF will hire 10 to 15 full-time canvassers in August to act as election liaisons at community colleges, flea markets, farmers markets, faith meetings, and other locations where VF can provide information to hundreds of people in one setting. They will also directly encourage voters to return ballots before November 8. And, in an exciting initiative, VF plans to hire a legal team to monitor and hold the county clerks publicly accountable in both Tulare and Kings to make sure that every vote counts.
Valley Voices (Kings County)
Summer and fall: CVM funding helped Valley Voices (VV) grow its team and rent an office. College students hired for the summer were fully integrated into the team by helping with vaccine pop-ups, getting community health worker training and canvassing door to door. They now have a Full Time Director plus a Community Relations and Development assistant and Social Media Associate. In addition, they have a new website and are developing a voter education comic book. VV plans to pair CVM funds with new grants aimed at increasing voter turnout in the 2022 midterm elections.