Now that November 3 has passed, there is one more big push ahead of us to change the course of our nation — the two run-off elections for U.S. Senate in Georgia on January 5.
Democrats Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock are challenging incumbent Republican Senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, respectively.
The two elections are critical because the results could give Democrats and Republicans 50 votes each in the U.S. Senate. In case of a tie vote, the tie-breaker would be cast by our new Vice President Kamala Harris. With Joe Biden claiming a historic victory in Georgia in this year’s Presidential Election, there is a real chance to flip these seats. Biden is the first Democrat to win the state in 28 years.
Georgia voters had until December 7 to register to vote for this election, so efforts are now focused on voter turnout. Because this is a federal election, the AFT is overseeing member volunteer efforts. (The AFT is not sending member or staff volunteers to Georgia, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and because it is important to let organizations and volunteers already on the ground take the lead in these elections.)
Volunteer opportunities
-
AFT, in conjunction with the New Georgia
Project, has ongoing phone banks to encourage
voters to request mail ballots and to remind them to
vote.
SIGN UP for phone banks through AFT Votes.
-
“Educators for Biden” phone bank
through the California Labor Federation, on
December 17 from 3-6 pm.
SIGN UP for the phone bank here.
-
Union Nights for Georgia, phone banks through
the AFL-CIO.
SIGN UP for phone banks here.
On-the-ground organizations in Georgia
Below is a list of nonprofits that are supporting voter registration work and fighting voter suppression in Georgia.
- Fair Fight was founded by former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacy Abrams in 2018. Fair Fight promotes fair elections in Georgia and around the country, encourages voter participation in elections, and educates voters about elections and their voting rights.
- The New Georgia Project is a nonpartisan effort to register and civically engage Georgians. Georgia’s population is growing and becoming increasingly diverse and they believe registration efforts should reflect that reality.
- Georgia Equality has a mission to advance fairness, safety and opportunity for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities and their allies throughout the state. To support their voter registration and education efforts, you would contribute to the “Equality Foundation of Georgia” arm of their organization.
- Georgia Shift gives marginalized young people a seat at the table through electoral action and hands-on education. They will be running a program focused on turning out and engaging young people of color.