PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Friday, Sept. 18, is the first ever National Black Voter Day. Local and national groups are holding events throughout the commonwealth targeting the African-American community.
Non-partisan organizations such as Black Voters Matter Fund, National Urban League and NAACP are hosting voter registration drives, complete with sandwich and swag giveaways, neighborhood caravans, rallies and more.
"Some of our outreach is specifically targeting African-American communities, African American congregations and African-American young adults," said Bishop Dwayne Royster, executive director of POWER Interfaith, a grassroots advocacy group comprising dozens of Philadelphia-area congregations.
POWER announced this week a major push to get over 100,000 voters to the polls on Election Day. For National Black Voter Day, their focus is on the virtual space.
"We'll be calling folks, we'll be texting folks, we'll be sending out social media posts," said Royster, who notes the organization had to make some pivots because of COVID-19.
They'll host bi-weekly town halls on Facebook, air radio broadcasts and do virtual information sessions on Sept. 23 and Oct. 13. In addition, they're starting an initiative called "Souls to the Polls," whereby volunteers drive people to commissioners' offices across the region to drop off their mail-in ballot.
"To make sure that everyone's vote is being counted in this election cycle," says Royster.
Some of the voter outreach is partisan. The Biden-Harris Campaign will in Philadelphia Friday evening in an event targeted to Black voters, led by State Rep. Jordan Harris and City Coucilmember Cherelle Parker. Sen. Kamala Harris, Democratic candidate for vice president, spent time in West Oak Lane on Thursday courting Black and Latino voters.
The Trump-Pence campaign will be holding its own Black voter events as well.
"Regardless of which parties (voters) are in, we want to diversify our strength," says Calvin Tucker, Pennsylvania GOP Director of Engagement and Advancement. "We want to make sure African Americans are fully in the electoral process."
He says the Republican Party and Black Voices for Trump will be in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh Friday to engage Black voters.
In 2016, only 60% of Blacks voted, down 8% from 2012. These groups are hoping the outreach will make a difference in the 2020 election.
