Volunteers work to boost voter turnout in Orlando’s Parramore neighborhood
ORLANDO, Fla. —
With Florida’s primary election just 10 days away, volunteers in Orlando’s Parramore neighborhood are working to boost voter turnout in an area that historically sees low participation.
Inside Shiloh Baptist Church, volunteers from the League of Women Voters of Orange County and other local organizations gathered to train for door-knocking and phone call campaigns aimed at increasing voter engagement.
“This is our first time,” said Ron Jackson of Shiloh Baptist Church.
Kathy, co-president of the Orange County League chapter, said, “I thought we could do the most good here.”
After weeks of preparation, including sending handwritten postcards to residents, the nonpartisan organization launched its final push on Saturday while also celebrating the 61st anniversary of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
“Just getting out, being visible in the neighborhood, would help, and us being a community partner with the League of Women Voters will help that effort,” Jackson said.
Kathy added, “I’ve heard so many people say, ‘Oh, the candidates come out at election time and then we never see them again.’ We don’t want to be like that. We are establishing partnerships with many of the organizations and churches in the area, and we like to make this a consistent thing.”
The League is particularly focused on engaging young voters and hopes to increase voter turnout in Parramore by at least 5%.
“It’s too late to register for the primary, but we can definitely help them register if they would like to vote in the general election, and on our card, we have a QR code that they can scan and register online,” Kathy said.