NAACP Reached 14.5 Million Voters Through Historic $20M+ Investment in 2024 Election - Building Black Political Power and Progress

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Alicia Mercedes, [email protected]
November 5, 2024

WASHINGTON - As the nation faced the consequential and unprecedented 2024 election, NAACP and its coalition of partners launched the largest civic engagement program ever by a civil rights organization. With over $20 million invested, they reached 14.5 million Black voters to build Black political power across the country and to ensure that anyone casting a ballot had the opportunity to shape policy at all levels of our democracy.

NAACP recruited and trained over 100,000 volunteers in 12 battleground states, targeting 15 key congressional districts where Black voters can influence election outcomes. As a trusted messenger for the Black community, NAACP played a crucial role, leveraging its infrastructure to demonstrate the power and influence of Black voters on our electorate. Key highlights include:

• Investing $6 million to NAACP local units and partners to strengthen GOTV efforts.
• Distributing voter education mail to over 1 million households in seven key states and social pressure mail to nearly 1.8 million additional households.
• Sending 3 rounds of GOTV texts to nearly 5 million voters, covering absentee voting options, early in-person voting, and Election Day details.
• Surveying and polling Black voters, particularly Black men, to understand which issues matter most to them and how their attitudes toward policies and priorities have shifted throughout this cycle.
• Launching one of the most robust Black radio ad programs in history, with over 7,500 spots before Election Day and nearly five million impressions reached weekly.

"Across our country, voters have taken action at the ballot box to work toward a future rooted in dignity, opportunity, and the promise of the American dream. These ideals, which shaped our nation, are more relevant today than ever and show that when Black voters turn out, they can push back on harmful agendas like Project 2025 and bring in a new era of hope and progress," said Derrick Johnson, NAACP President and CEO. "Our historic investment in civic engagement has unlocked potential and provided the tools for every voter, particularly Black and marginalized voters, to exercise their fundamental right as Americans."

To combat voter suppression efforts, on Election Day, NAACP filed an Amicus brief in the Southern District of Georgia, requesting the court to deny the GOP's attempt to block absentee ballots. Due to coordinated efforts, polling hours were extended in Georgia's Gwinnett, Cobb, Glynn, and Fulton counties to guarantee the right to vote for residents in these areas, which are among Georgia's most densely populated Black communities. Through our NAACP Office of General Counsel and election protection coalition, we received reports of over 2,051 incidents from Black voters. Of these, 1,471 incidents occurred in battleground states where the NAACP has been actively involved in civic engagement programs focused on voter registration and GOTV efforts.

As a key priority, NAACP intensified its voter protection efforts to counter new and dangerous intimidation tactics targeting Black and marginalized communities. The Association is committed to ensuring every vote is protected and counted, regardless of divisive tactics or rhetoric that may steer our communities away from casting their vote. Key legal battles and highlights include:

• Litigating to end Georgia's Hand Count rule, prevent voter disenfranchisement in Washington, and halt Alabama's "Purge Program."
• Operating a Voter Protection Hub through Election Day and distributing Voter Guides to eligible voters.
• Mobilizing lawyers and law students to respond to real-time voter suppression incidents via the 1-866-OUR-VOTE hotline, filing emergency cases in MI, PA, MD, NC, GA, and other states, and staffing Election Protection Command Centers.
• Monitoring county and state canvassing boards to ensure accurate vote counting and certification.

"Our vote shapes the future of our democracy and can guide our nation into an era where Black political power influences every decision. Our $20 million civic engagement program met voters where they are and provided essential resources and tools to push back against division and move us toward a country that meets the needs of the Black community," said Dominik Whitehead, Senior Vice President of Campaigns and Mobilization, NAACP. "Our efforts showed that Black voters turn out when it matters, and when candidates show up for us, we show up for them."

NAACP's civic engagement program is driven by analytics and evidence-based innovations, designed and refined by GSSA, a Colorado-based data analytics and electoral strategy group.

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ABOUT NAACP
The NAACP advocates, agitates, and litigates for the civil rights due to Black America. Our legacy is built on the foundation of grassroots activism by the biggest civil rights pioneers of the 20th century and is sustained by 21st century activists. From classrooms and courtrooms to city halls and Congress, our network of members across the country works to secure the social and political power that will end race-based discrimination. That work is rooted in racial equity, civic engagement, and supportive policies and institutions for all marginalized people. We are committed to a world without racism where Black people enjoy equitable opportunities in thriving communities. NOTE: The Legal Defense Fund - also referred to as the NAACP-LDF - was founded in 1940 as a part of the NAACP, but now operates as a completely separate entity.

About NAACP's 2024 Election Work:
The NAACP invested over $20 million in the 2024 election cycle to mobilize more than 14.5 million Black voters, creating the largest civic engagement program ever run by a civil rights organization in U.S. history. We recruited and trained over 100,000 volunteers in 12 battleground states, targeting 15 key congressional districts in six states where Black voters can influence election outcomes and drive Black political power. As the nation's leading civil rights organization, our focus remains dedicated to combating rampant disinformation and providing our electorate with critical and accurate information. To learn more about the NAACP's commitment to civic engagement in the 2024 election, click here.