We’ve got a pretty shocking story for you – one that highlights the importance of having permanent voter protection teams in critical states like Georgia.
Georgia has had automatic voter registration through their Department of Driver Services since 2016. When people go to get or renew their driver’s license, they’re automatically registered to vote – unless they opt out.
Their automatic voter registration program is so successful that in 2020, 79% of new drivers registered to vote.
But in 2021, Saira (Power the Vote co-founder) noticed a dramatic drop:
…only 39% of new drivers had registered (40% less than the year before!).
That’s around 1 million fewer voter registrations per year.
Confronted with the data, the Georgia Department of Driver Services denied the problem – and denied any change in policy.
Undeterred, Saira took the story to the press.
The resulting investigation and public outcry forced DDS to admit that it had quietly eliminated automatic voter registration in January 2021 when it started requiring voters to opt-in to the program.
Once automatic opt-out voter registration was re-introduced, registrations skyrocketed 50% in one month – going from 27% in March to 72% in April.
Friend, this is just another example of the importance of having a permanent voter protection presence in these states. So much voter protection work happens in the so-called “off-years.”
That’s why we founded Power the Vote – to put boots on the ground in critical states like Georgia to monitor elections and fight for voters 24-7-365.
But this work is only possible because of the support of people like you.
Help us continue to fight for democracy – chip in today to fund voter protection staff in battleground states like Georgia!
