NAACP Launches Multi-Million Dollar Fund to Propel Voter Registration and Turnout Ahead of November

The NAACP has announced the official launch of their Building Community Voice Fund (BCVF). The non-partisan, multi-million dollar fund established by the NAACP to provide grants to 501(c)(3) voter registration and voter turnout initiatives and organizations, including complementary voter education and voter protection programs. 

Dominik Whitehead, NAACP Vice President of Campaigns shared the following statement:

"This year, The NAACP is laser-focused through our robust civic engagement work. As we mobilize 13.5 million Black voters across 12 priority states, we recognize the power of investing directly in community. The Building Community Voice Fund will provide crucial resources to our grassroots organizations, ensuring that Black Americans are informed and engaged around pivotal local elections that are too often overlooked. Together, we will ensure that democracy prevails and Black voices are heard loud and clear."

Our research shows that targeted investment in state groups have positive effects on Black voters' daily lives. With a continued commitment to the BCVF program, the NAACP aims to delve deeper into defining the impact of investing in competitive races in both competitive and progressive counties.

"In many Black communities, a lack of resources directly contributes to low voter registration and subsequent election turnout," said Brittany Smith, Program Director of the NAACP Building Community Voice Fund. "The BCVF program is critical for Black Americans to have a voice in this crucial upcoming election and beyond."

To learn more about the NAACP's Building Community Voice Fund, visit our website.

Help register new voters with the NAACP 2019 POWER OF FIVE initative

POWER OF FIVE

The NAACP is organizing supporters all across the country to fight for policies that respect and improve our communities. Five Minutes, Five Hours, Five Days, Five Months … Can all be used to change our Nation for the better!

The Power of 5 campaign charges voters to take leadership of their own spheres of influence. The charge is simple: register 5 new voters before the deadline, ensure 5 people get to the polls, and volunteer 5 minutes, 5 hours or 5 days to make sure we have the highest turn out ever.

Learn more and sign up to support this NAACP initiative here: https://www.naacp.org/mobilize-your-five/

#WakandaTheVote: Activist using Black Panther screening to increase voter registration

Days after the premiere of "Black Panther," lines are still out the door at theaters across New York City.

Now activists are using the Marvel super hero movie starring a nearly all black cast and set in the fictional East African nation of Wakanda as a chance to increase African American voter registration.

Rev. Jesse Jackson visits Fla., discusses voter suppression

The Rev. Jesse Jackson says there was no evidence of voter fraud in the 2016 presidential election but says President Trump's Commission on Election Integrity should look at the suppression of minority voters in certain states, including Florida.

The civil rights activist visited St. John Baptist Church in Orlando Sunday to encourage voter participation and to talk about voter suppression.

In a call with The Associated Press, Jackson said between 1.3 and 1.7 million voters don't have the right to vote in Florida because they have a felony conviction although they are no longer incarcerated.

Jackson says his Rainbow PUSH Coalition has set up its own commission of scholars and activists to look into such voter suppression. The group is also focusing on voter registration in closely watched elections in Virginia and New Jersey. And in Florida, the group is focused on restoration of voting rights for felons.

[SOURCE: ORLANDO SENTINEL]

Three North Carolina counties ordered to restore voter lists

A federal judge on Friday ordered elections boards in three North Carolina counties to restore voter registrations canceled too close to Election Day after the NAACP sued over thousands of the challenges.

U.S. District Judge Loretta Biggs issued the ruling after an emergency hearing earlier in the week on NAACP allegations that at least three counties purged voter rolls through a process disproportionately targeting blacks.

Biggs said the local elections boards must "take all steps necessary" to restore voter registrations canceled during the 90 days preceding Election Day on Tuesday.

Read more: Three North Carolina counties ordered to restore voter lists

President Obama Shows Us 5 Things That Are Harder Than Registering To Vote

President Obama has teamed up with Buzzfeed and TurboVote to launch "Turn Up the Vote," an initiative to encourage people to engage in the democratic process and register to vote.

Your vote is not only the most powerful tool we have to shape our collective future, it's easy for you to do. In fact, watch President Obama do a few things that are harder than registering to vote:

5 Things That Are Harder Than Registering To Vote, Featuring @POTUS #TurnUpToVotehttps://t.co/vHfvNl3s5e

— BuzzFeed (@BuzzFeed) June 27, 2016