“Black Voters in Georgia have done it again! Voter turnout in Georgia reached historic highs on the first day of early voting in this midterm election, and Black Voters comprised 35% of all those who turned out to vote.  Compared to the last midterm election in 2018, Georgians far exceeded the early voting numbers for the first two days and came very close to the 2020 results, according to data from the Secretary of State. In doing so, the Black male vote total was 46,016, in comparison to 38,792 in 2018. We at Black Voters Matter never doubted the commitment of Black voters to use the ballot box to bring about change.

When Black voters, along with our allies, showed up in similar numbers in 2020 and helped to elect a democratic President and two Senators for the first time in 30 years, folks called it a fluke. Even today, pundits, relying on polls instead of actual votes, have projected that Black voters, particularly Black men,  are not enthusiastic about these races and won’t show up to the polls. But the first two days of early voting in Georgia show that those experts were wrong, and Black voters are deeply engaged in this election cycle. No matter who doubts us, Black Voters will continue to send the message that ‘We Won’t Black Down’!

Black Voters in Georgia and all over this country are concerned about a wide range of issues that disproportionately affect Black communities such as voting rights, police accountability, health and reproductive rights, and economic justice, and they see the voting booth as a tool to bring those changes  in Georgia’s key races for U.S. Senate, Governor, Secretary of State, and others.  Our issues are on the ballot and this year we are going to elect candidates who are going to undo Georgia’s voter suppression,  pass and enforce policies that will ensure public safety while not allowing police to harm our communities, equitably distribute resources and economic opportunities all over the state regardless of zip code, expand healthcare and access to hospitals and strengthen infrastructure. Freedom is our birthright!”

 

Cliff Albright and LaTosha Brown

Co-Founders of Black Voters Matter Fund