The Cincinnati NAACP is mobilizing to drive up voter registration and turnout in marginalized communities.
Unveiled on Feb. 12, the NAACP Mobile Civic Engagement Unit is a bus retrofitted with computer stations, printers and WI-FI that will travel to historically marginalized neighborhoods that tend to see low voter turnout.
During the monthly and special outreach events, the bus will be staffed with volunteers to educate residents about the voting process, according to a news release. Community members will be able to get printed instructional materials, a sample ballot, absentee ballot request forms and assistance with online voter registration.
“Our goal is to make our model scalable and sustainable beyond the election cycle,” said David Whitehead, Cincinnati NAACP political action & voter empowerment chair.
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Residents will also be instructed on how to identify their elected representatives.
Joe Mallory, Cincinnati NAACP president, said this mobile unit is a first-of-its kind for the NAACP nationally.
“We could not be more excited to launch the first in the nation NAACP civic engagement strategy and mobile unit in Cincinnati on the 109th charter day of our branch,” said Mallory. “For 109 years, our chapter has been a local leader and national role model in our organization’s mission to advance policies and practices that expand human and civil rights. […] The Cincinnati NAACP will leverage technology and mobility to reach residents more easily to empower, engage, and educate them on voting.”
The first Cincinnati NAACP Mobile Civic Engagement Unit outreach event will be held in April 2024, with monthly events with community partners scheduled afterward.
To learn more about the Cincinnati NAACP Mobile Civic Engagement Unit outreach program, visit cincinnatinaacp.com.
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This article appears in Feb 12-12, 2024.