The NAACP Civic Engagement Department has developed a 2006 Voter Empowerment Program (VEP ’06) as a nonpartisan campaign designed to empower African Americans and people of color by increasing awareness and participation in the electoral process. The VEP ’06 Goal is to increase African American voter turnout by 5% more than the 2002 turnout.
KEY DISPARITIES THAT INFORM THE 2006 VOTER EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM (VEP ’06)
In 2004, 67.9% of whites were registered compared to 64.4% of blacks
In 2004, 60.3% of whites voted compared to 56.3% of blacks
In 2000 and 2004, the percentage of uncounted votes was higher in minority neighborhoods with high poverty
Ballot initiatives are underutilized as a method of promoting equity and the advancement of a progressive civil rights agenda
TO ACHIEVE THE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT GOAL, THE NAACP WILL…
Ensure Voter Empowerment: Provide awareness, training, and programmatic support to ensure registration, education, administration, and election protection
Ensure Voters’ Constitutional Rights are Protected: Promote the constitutional right to vote, have it counted, and protected
Monitor Redistricting and Census Information: Assure fair and proportional elected representation
Promote Ballot Initiatives to Address Social Justice Issues: Ensure ballot initiatives advance progressive civil rights agenda
VEP ’06 MOBILIZATION STRATEGY
The VEP ’06 plan concentrates efforts providing support in the following areas: Technical Assistance and Training; Capacity-Building; Database Management; Research and Strategic Planning; and Public Messaging. The nationwide program places special emphasis on the 5 Gulf Coast States of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and Texas in addition to Michigan, Georgia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. Overall, the VEP ’06 plan includes 5 components:
