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BEYOND THE CHAIR EDITION: October 2023
W TURNOUT TURN UP WE GOTTA KEEP INCREASING VOTER PARTICIPATION NM Voter Registration Status
NM Black Voters Collaborative
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It’s that time again. We, the people, are entering election season. Election Day is Tuesday, November 7. Let’s talk about the ongoing work to increase voter turnout and how the New Mexico Black Leadership Council (NMBLC) plays a role in doing so. The New Mexico Black Voters Collaborative is a non-partisan collective convened by the NMBLC to tackle the
“Build voting power on“ the ground and it shifts ”the status quo.” task of increasing voter participation among eligible African Americans here in New Mexico. Now, you may be wondering how? Let’s break it down in three parts. It starts with VOTER OUTREACH. Ensuring community members are “in the know” and encouraging them to get to the polls. It’s even more important to highlight history, as our ancestors fought hard for the right to vote. After reaching out to prospective voters, the Black Voters Collaborative turns its attention to
VOTER EDUCATION by making sure our neighbors know the issues, the candidates, and how the voting process works. “Political engagement requires strong communities. It’s more than just helping [someone] register to vote; we have to be sure there’s a community coalition to make sure the power is used correctly,” said Jack Champagne, NMBLC UpLift Initiative Director. “Your vote matters,” are three words we hear each election season. By educating voters on the issues that are important to them, it becomes easier to see the overall impact of the ballot. Champagne points out the ongoing housing crisis in Albuquerque, adding, “A lot of the bad things going on with housing are due to landlords wielding too much power on city council, so explaining how problems are connected to voting or the lack thereof can help residents see the bigger picture and take action.” So, the final part of the process is VOTER MOBILIZATION. After outreach and education, the ultimate hope is that people will actually get out and vote. Champagne emphasizes that efforts like the Black Voters Collaborative must remain local. “You build that power on the ground and it could shift the status quo.”
WHAT’S INSIDE BEYOND THE CHAIR EDITION CITY COUNCIL ELECTION 2 GOVERNOR’S GUN BAN 3 HOLLYWOOD STRIKES 4 NM LEGAL AID’S SONYA BELLAFANT 5 SAME DAY VOTING 5 DR. STEVIE DEJUAN SINGER 6 ICYMI BTC HAIR FLAIR 7 BLACK HALLOWEEN MOVIES 7