Text messages, calls to assist more than 645,000 voters with completing, returning absentee ballot applications
DETROIT — All Voting is Local today announced a campaign to empower Michigan voters, particularly people of color and young people, to vote by mail through a series of text messages reaching over 521,000 voters, direct calls reaching over 124,000 voters, and digital ads walking them through the absentee voting process. Ensuring voters are aware of the tools they can use to have their voices heard will increase comfort and confidence in our elections.
Last week, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced that her office would send all registered Michigan voters an absentee ballot application for the August and November elections. While this is a vital first step to ensure all voters can be heard, many Michigan residents may be unfamiliar with the vote-by-mail process.
Historically, people of color and young people have faced unnecessary and disproportionate barriers to the ballot. In addition to already existing barriers, concerns about COVID-19 and voting by mail could further discourage these communities from voting.
“We applaud Secretary Benson’s plan to encourage voters to exercise their right to vote by mail,” said Aghogho Edevbie, All Voting is Local Michigan state director. “But engaging voters is crucial to ensure they can all cast a ballot that counts. By reaching out directly to voters, we intend to demystify the vote-by-mail process for those who may be unfamiliar with it, while also encouraging their participation in the upcoming elections.”
All Voting is Local will reach voters through:
- Phone calls, in partnership with the Michigan League of Conservation Voters Education Fund, to encourage voters to fill out the mailed absentee ballot applications
- Texts messages that inform voters of their option to vote by mail and where to apply for an absentee ballot
- Digital ads with videos explaining how to fill out an absentee ballot application