POWER Reaches Thousands of African American Voters in SF
Thursday October 16, 2008 | SF Bay Area
POWER launched an unprecedented effort to increase voter turnout and engagement in one of the last remaining African American communities in San Francisco, where voter participation has historically been one of the lowest in the City. We made phone calls and knocked on the doors of more than 15,000 residents in the community of Bayview Hunters Point. To reach new voters and those likely to vote only for President, we compiled a slate card on major state and local propositions. We had two main goals: to increase voter turnout by 20% in District 10, which includes Bayview Hunters Point; and to engage African American communities, low-income communities of color and immigrant communities on issues critical to the future of the San Francisco.
District 10 saw a historic moment, with voter turnout increasing by 15% since the last Presidential election! We engaged thousands of voters around issues of gay marriage, keeping JROTC out of schools, women's right to reproductive choices, and affordable housing.