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Good afternoon, friends, advocates and voters.
We hope this edition of the New Pennsylvania Project eBlast finds you well.
Please take a few moments to check out all the important news you can use, events happening in your neighborhood, career opportunities, and other updates.
The New Pennsylvania Project Celebrates 2 Years in Communities! 🥳🎉
Graphic depicting a tweet from the New Pennsylvania Project on 5/3/23 at 8:47am stating: ''Happy 2 year anniversary to the New Pennsylvania Project. Two years ago today we were a staff of one. Today we have more than 40 Pennsylvanians expanding the electorate by engaging and mobilizing our communities -- year-round! #VotePA #MyTwitterAnniversary'' [[link removed]]
Happy 2nd anniversary to the New Pennsylvania Project! Two years ago this week, we were a staff of one with aspirations of expanding the electorate in Pennsylvania, and to center historically disenfranchised Black, Indigenous, and other people of color, immigrant communities and the youth in our work. Since our founding, we have registered more than 20,000 Pennsylvanians to vote.
- 52% of those we registered to vote are under the age of 35
- 66% of registrants self-identified as Black, Indigenous or belonging to another community of color
*
We
registered
2,600
new
American
citizens
at
the
United
States
Citizenship
&
Immigration
Services
naturalization
ceremonies
in
Philadelphia.
*
We
made
more
than
531,000
text
messages
to
potential
voters.
*
We
held
more
than
35
community
engagement
events,
voter
registration
drives,
town
halls
and
community
conversations.
*
We
developed
more
than
75
partnerships
with
like-minded
community
organizations/groups,
high
schools,
universities,
churches,
local
businesses,
and
government
agencies,
etc.
*
We
maintained
our
staffing
levels
and
had
zero
layoffs
in
2022.
Welcome New NPP Staff!
Blue Graphic depicting a headshot on the right hand side and text stating: ''Meet Khalif Ali, Director. Khalif joined NPP for the opportunity to strengthen the integrity of our democracy by reinstalling confidence in the practice of democracy. '' [[link removed]]
NPP CEO, Kadida Kenner, welcomes our newest staffer, Khalif Ali. Khalif joins NPP as the Director.
Meet Khalif Ali! Khalif joins the New Pennsylvania Project as the organization’s Director. Khalif is a Pittsburgh resident with a background in community organizing, engagement and public policy. Khalif works closely with community-based organizations, local government, foundations, and individual activists to craft and advance a progressive policy and advocacy agenda. Vulnerable populations are at the center of his work.
Meet our entire team: [link removed] [[link removed]] #ExpandTheElectorate #DefendDemocracy.
Tweet of the Week
Screenshot of tweet from the ACLU of Pennsylvania stating: ''We vote because elected officials impact our lives. Learn more about the state of democracy with ACLU-PA's Marian Schneider and Khalif Ali, formerly of Common Cause PA and now with the New Pennsylvania Project. Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts.'' [[link removed]]
Pennsylvania’s 2023 primary election is right around the corner, on May 16, and with the delivery of mail and absentee ballots, voting is already underway. So the time is right to hear from Marian Schneider, ACLU-PA’s senior policy counsel for voting rights, and Khalif Ali, formerly of Common Cause PA and now with the New Pennsylvania Project. Marian and Khalif talk about the state of democracy, what challenges we’re facing in protecting the vote, and what opportunities may arise with changes in power at the state capitol.
Listen here [[link removed]] .
NPP in the News
Last chance to register to vote in Philadelphia primary [[link removed]] (WHYY)
Groups like the New Pennsylvania Project have been working to get more voters registered in the city and across the state.
Voter Registration Push [[link removed]] (Fox8)
News You Can Use
Pa. Democrats want counties to be able to count mail ballots faster. Here’s why changes are unlikely [[link removed]] (Philadelphia Inquirer)
“Newly empowered Pennsylvania House Democrats, in a position to move election legislation for the first time since the 2020 election, are proposing a change to allow mail ballots to be processed earlier so they can be counted faster.
The change is widely backed by elections administrators across the state — but the bill doesn’t have the backing of Republicans, who control the Senate.”
What exactly is ranked-choice voting, and how would it change the Philly mayor’s race? [[link removed]] (Billy Penn)
The method, which allows voters to — you guessed it — rank their preferred candidates instead of just choosing one, aims to produce more of a consensus winner. It has gained steam nationally in the past few years, but as of now, isn’t legal in Pennsylvania.
After 22 years, LGBTQ+ anti-discrimination legislation clears hurdle in Pa. House [[link removed]] (PA Capital Star)
The bill, which now goes to the House floor for a vote, would simply add sexual orientation and gender identity or expression to the list of protected classes under the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act.
T he House Judiciary Committee approved the measure on a party-line vote of 12-9.
The proposal inspired emotional and passionate rhetoric from supporters as Republican members of the committee suggested it would infringe on the religious convictions and freedom of individuals and institutions and lead to unintended consequences.
State House gets closer to realizing mail-in ballot and pre-canvassing reforms [[link removed]] (City & State) [[link removed]]
Pennsylvania Democrats used the first full week of session since they solidified their majority in the state House to make their priorities clear: They intend to pass long-requested changes to election administration and anti-discrimination laws.
Committees in the House considered dozens of bills this week, and sent more than 40 to the floor for votes by the full chamber. Democrats argue the half-dozen GOP-sponsored proposals they included in that blitz show they intend to run the chamber in a bipartisan way.
House Bill 847 would give counties seven days to pre-canvass ballots – the act of opening, processing and tallying mail-in ballots prior to Election Day. It would also move up the deadline to apply online for a mail-in ballot by four days and allow voters to cure or fix unsigned or undated mail-in ballots.
What will Pa. House Democrats do with a majority? First, they’re moving long-stalled priority bills. [[link removed]] (Spotlight PA)
Women have more power than ever in Pennsylvania’s legislature, but lawmakers say big hurdles remain [[link removed]] (Spotlight PA)
Women lead both chambers of the state General Assembly, but they still make up less than one-third of the total number of members in the state legislature – a figure that gives Pennsylvania a rank of 27th in the nation for the percentage of women serving in the legislature, Spotlight PA reports.
We're Hiring!
The New Pennsylvania Project is a voting rights organization with a primary focus of registering communities of color and the youth to vote. We are looking for passionate individuals to join our team and help defend democracy by expanding the electorate.
*
Director
of
Campaigns
and
Engagement
*
Director
of
Programs
*
Regional
Organizing
Directors
*
Community
Engagement
Associate
*
Fellows
(part-time)
To learn more about how to apply and review job descriptions with requirements and disclosed salary ranges, please click here [[link removed]] .
Upcoming Events
2023 Appellate Courts Candidates' Forum
When: Tuesday, May 9 6:00pm on Zoom
Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts will host a forum with candidates for Pennsylvania's appellate courts, including the Supreme Court, Superior Court, and Commonwealth Court. This event will provide viewers with an opportunity to get to know the candidates through a moderated forum. Attendees will have the opportunity to submit questions for the candidates.
Register here. [[link removed]]
Event Flyer for NPP's 2nd anniversary at the Phillies Game. Event details listed in text below. [[link removed]]
Happy 2nd Anniversary to the The New Pennsylvania Project!
Our work has been made possible because of the incredible grassroots support from so many across the Commonwealth and it is about time we all get together and celebrate!
Join us for a fun day at the ballpark to root on the Philadelphia Phillies!
When: Monday, June 5
Where: Citizens Bank Park
1 Citizen Bank Way
Philadelphia, PA 19148
Purchase tickets here: [link removed] [[link removed]]
RSVP here: [link removed] [[link removed]]
- Tailgate party starts at 4:00pm (parking lot TBD)
- Game starts at 6:40pm
Event flyer for Humankind Day 2023. Event details listed below. [[link removed]]
Humankind Day 2023
Unidos' 4th Anniversary Community Event in partnership with Resilient LV
When: Saturday, June 10th 12:00 - 3:00pm
Where: Jordan Park
1001 N. 6th St.
Allentown, PA
Register here [[link removed]]
Policy Corner
Blue graphic depicting heading as #PolicyCorner with the following words: ''The PA Fairness Act would prohibit discrimination in house, employment and public accommodations on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.'' [[link removed]]
Did you know Pennsylvania is the only state in the northeast without statewide nondiscrimination protections for the LGBTQIA+ community?
Twenty-four states across the country have extended discrimination protection to members of the LGBTQIA+ community in addition to dozens of counties and municipalities in Pennsylvania.
On Tuesday, May 2, 2023, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed an extension of the state’s anti-discrimination law to protect members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
This now moves to the PA Senate to be voted on.
Thank you for taking the time to stay informed. We'll be back in two weeks with the latest edition.
In solidarity,
#TeamNPP
Graphic depicting: 2023 Municipal Primary Important Dates. May 1- Last day to register to vote for the primary election. May 9 - Last day to apply for a mail ballot. May 16 - Voted mail ballots must be received by 8pm. May 16 - Election Day. Polls are open from 7am to 8pm. vote.pa.gov [[link removed]]
PA ELECTION DATES:
Municipal/Local/Judicial Primary: May 16, 2023
Last day to register to vote : May 1, 2023
Last day to request a mail-in or absentee ballot : May 9, 2023
Municipal/Local/Judicial Election: November 7, 2023
Last day to register to vote : October 23, 2023
Last day to request a mail-in or absentee ballot : October 31, 2023
We're on a mission to register new voters in the Commonwealth and expand the electorate.
Help us prepare for the upcoming municipal, judicial, and local elections in 2023!
Invest in our democracy [[link removed]]
The New Pennsylvania Project is a 501(c)(4), contributions are not for charitable purposes and are not tax-deductible.
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Paid for by the New Pennsylvania Project
New Pennsylvania Project
PO Box 443
West Chester, PA 19381
United States
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