Every ballot cast is a victory for our democracy, says NAACP President on Midterms
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 8, 2022
Contact: Jonah Bryson, jbryson@naacpnet.org
WASHINGTON DC – In response to initial reporting on the 2022 midterm election results, NAACP President & CEO Derrick Johnson released the following statement:
"Now that the final votes have been cast and the official count is underway, we first want to thank the tireless organizers, volunteers, and supporters who spent countless hours knocking on doors, educating voters, monitoring polls, and so much more. Every ballot cast is a victory for our democracy. Despite voter suppression and malicious attempts to silence us, our collective efforts continue to uplift the voices of millions of voters who are calling for change.
Black people have always been at the forefront of the movement to push our country toward true equality and fairness, and this election was no exception. Today has proven that when we utilize our collective power, we can make a real difference. Thank you to every voter who mailed in their ballot or waited in long lines, to every poll worker who volunteered their time and energy, and to every organizer who stood up against misinformation and empowered our community. The stakes today were high, but Black voters once again rose to the occasion and refused to be silenced.
One thing is certain: our work must go on. The NAACP will continue to speak up wherever racism and bigotry exist and will never cease to amplify Black voices in pursuit of a more just and equal country, just as we have done for the last 113 years. We are prepared to continue this fight as we prepare for 2024."
In the months leading up to Election Day, the NAACP spent approximately $2,000,000 on radio ads across GA, PA, FL, NC, NV, OH, WI & MI and distributed $6,500,000 to 55 grassroots partners and local NAACP units across 18 states. The association also recruited 30,000 volunteers to assist with GOTV efforts, trained legal experts to combat voter suppression and intimidation at the polls, and partnered with Lyft to offer free rides to voters to and from polling stations.
On Election Day, the NAACP deployed legal professionals to serve as poll monitors across the country, ensuring all voters had the opportunity to cast their ballot while tracking any reports of voter suppression issues through the Voter Incident Report form.
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About NAACP
Founded in 1909 in response to the ongoing violence against Black people around the country, the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) is the largest and most pre-eminent civil rights organization in the nation. We have over 2,200 units and branches across the nation, along with well over 2M activists. Our mission is to secure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons.
NOTE: The Legal Defense Fund – also referred to as the NAACP-LDF – was founded in 1940 as a part of the NAACP, but separated in 1957 to become a completely separate entity. It is recognized as the nation's first civil and human rights law organization and shares our commitment to equal rights.