In preparation for the 2018 midterm elections, Nobody Leaves Mid-Hudson has successfully registered over 1,000 new voters and contacted 9,000 more voters to increase voter turnout.

The member-led immigrant rights and social justice organization based in the Hudson Valley joined the New York Immigration Coalition’s non-partisan Immigrants Vote! Campaign to increase voter turnout amongst new Americans, people of color, and young people.

Elections are an opportunity to actively participate in decisions that directly impact our everyday lives. Previous mid-term elections, however, point to incredibly low voter turnout rates. In the 2014 mid-term election, New York State placed 5th worst in voter participation out of all fifty states with only 29.5% of registered voters casting a ballot. Worse yet, turnout rates are drawn across lines of race and class. We continuously see a distinct, and detrimental, voting gap between low-income people and wealthy people, as well as a gap between white voters and voters of color. Through the “Immigrants Vote!” Campaign, Nobody Leaves Mid-Hudson is working to fill this gap.

Elected officials listen when communities vote. That’s why constituency is necessary to address our basic needs for survival. It is crucial for all of our voices and our communities to be heard in this mid-term election.

What happens on Tuesday, November 6th will shape the future of New York State for the next two years. Every state position is up for election, from governor to each and every seat in New York State Senate and Assembly.

There has been an increase in voter registration and voter turnout nationwide. National Voter Registration Day broke its record with more than 800,000 people registering to vote in one day. Early voting by young people is up 500% in Texas and Georgia. Early vote counts have already surpassed those of the last mid-term in 18 states. The energy surrounding these elections is unmatched by any midterm in recent years, and this emphasis on political participation is an exciting tool to be utilized.

Nobody Leaves Mid-Hudson is excited to play a role in a national movement to increase voter registration and participation in the mid-term election.

To get involved with Nobody Leaves Mid-Hudson’s non-partisan Get Out The Vote efforts in the future, you can email [email protected].