For Immediate Release
New Orleans, LA– Yesterday, Monday, September 26, 2022, the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice (PCEJ) started an on the ground canvassing initiative in major cities like New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Alexandria, and Lake Charles. The campaign is part of a statewide Get Out and Vote (GOTV) strategy currently underway ahead of the November 8, 2022 Primary Congressional election. In the beginning of September, PCEJ onboarded over 100 phone bankers and canvassers statewide to help register voters and educate about key ballot initiatives.
“Across the state there is a lot of voter potential,” said Ashley Shelton, CEO of PCEJ. “We have voters that are either unregistered or not active in every election. Each election matters and every voice matters. Our goal is to continue to engage and activate voters across the state to use their voice so that the true power of Black and brown voters can be felt without question.”
PCEJ estimates there are over 53,000 Black women voters who are unregistered in major parishes and over 224,000 minority voters who are unregistered in major parishes. A number of things have impacted voter turnout over the past few years, including rising rates of COVID and voter disillusionment. With more of the population vaccinated and lower rates of COVID cases, PCEJ has been working to tackle voter engagement in Black and brown communities through in-person candidate forums, listening sessions, and voter registration opportunities. Employing canvassers, phone bankers, and texters to aid in voter education and engagement is an important component of building power.
Contact Information:
Marissa Hogan, Communications Associate
Email: mhogan@powercoalition.org
Phone:504-952-4287
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Power Coalition for Equity and Justice (PCEJ) is dedicated to supporting and coordinating civic and voter engagement across Louisiana. We are guided by values of justice and racial equity and work with our partners to build an integrated civic engagement strategy that amplifies the voices of those who have historically been ignored, and organize them into a unified movement. PCEJ focuses on building power in traditionally marginalized communities, particularly Black and Brown communities, by equipping people with the knowledge and information they need to find their voice and learn where and when to use it.