Lift Every Voice and Vote Launches to Reverse Indiana's Poor Voting Record

“Lift Every Voice and Vote” launched to reverse Indiana’s poor voting record

Efforts kick off Voter Registration Week, Sept. 14th-21st

Seeking to upend voter turnout rates that put Indiana last among U.S. states in 2022, Women4Change Indiana has launched the “Lift Every Voice and Vote” campaign to boost turnout this fall.

Women4Change and its partners – the League of Women Voters-Indiana, Common Cause-Indiana, Hoosiers for Democracy, The Circle City Links, Inc., Count US IN Indiana and MADVoters – say the campaign is working to increase first-time voter registration and voter turnout, reversing a 12-year period in which voter registration has consistently declined, according to the 2023 Indiana Civic Health Index.

Indiana ranks 50 th in both voter turnout and civic health.

During National Voter Registration Week, Sept. 14-21st, the campaign will focus on a series of events to educate on issues that affect women, girls and families, as well as to register Hoosiers to vote.

The campaign provides opportunities for volunteers to sign up for Get Out The Vote (GOTV) events and towrite postcards – a proven strategy of influence – every Thursday in September.

Volunteers may also choose to write postcards to registered voters on their own or host their own postcard parties with Women4Change’s Write Postcards. Save Democracy toolkits. Women4Change created a voter mobilization toolkit that Hoosiers can use to confirm their voter registration, register to vote, request an absentee ballot, learn what’s on their ballot and find voting locations.

“There is simply too much at stake for women and families in the upcoming election for Indiana to stand ont he sidelines,” said Angela Carr Klitzsch, CEO of Women4Change. “The best way for us to make our voices heard is through the voting booth, and we’re going to make sure we get as many people there as possible.”

Linda Hanson, President, League of Women Voters of Indiana underscores drawing upon tried-and-true national voter access resource: Vote411.org

“Because National Voter Registration Day is Sept. 17, the League of Women Voters of Indiana County encourages all citizens to check to make sure they are registered to vote by going to VOTE411.org, an award-winning website the national headquarters of the League of Women Voters supports. If citizens discover they are not registered to vote, they can register to vote on VOTE411.org. LWVIN will join others in the All IN for Democracy coalition for a press conference at 11 AM in Indianapolis at the Statehouse, and there will be voter registration following at Lugar Plaza.”

At 42%, Indiana’s voter turnout rate in 2022 was the lowest in the country, tracking more than 10% below the national average. During the last presidential election in 2020, the state fared only slightly better, placing 46th in voter turnout.

National Voter Registration Week events include:

  • Sept. 14, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Lockerbie Square Street Market, 542 Lockerbie St., Indianapolis.

  • Sept. 14, 3-8 p.m. Bates-Hendricks Street Fest, 1525 S. New Jersey St., Indianapolis.

  • Sept. 15, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, Fiesta de Familia (free admission day), 3000 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis.

  • Sept. 15, 12 p.m.-3 p.m. Joy to the Polls, Fort Wayne Urban League, 2135 S. Hanna St., Fort Wayne.

  • Sept. 17, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. The Capital Group, 12711 N. Meridian St., Carmel.

  • Sept. 17, 9 a.m.-2 p.m Ivy Tech Constitution Week, 2535 N. Capitol Ave., Indianapolis.

  • Sept. 17, 12-4 p.m. IU-Indianapolis, University Library, 755 W. Michigan St., Indianapolis.

  • Sept. 17, 10 a.m.-2 p.m IU-Columbus, Landing of the Columbus Learning Center, 4555 Central Ave., Columbus.

  • Sept. 18, 12-4 p.m. Art Mart, 409 N. Martin Street, St. 2, Muncie.

  • Sept. 19, 4- 6 p.m. North Church Farmer’s Market, 3808 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis.

  • Sept. 19, 5-7 p.m. Postcard-Writing Event with The Women’s Fund of Central Indiana, 615 N. Alabama St., Ste. 300, Indianapolis. RSVP at vote@women4changeindiana.org

  • Sept. 19, 4:30-8 p.m. IndyHub’s IndyVolved, Indiana State Fairgrounds, Agriculture Horticulture Building, 1202 E. 38th St., Indianapolis.

  • Sept. 19, 6-8 p.m. Trail Talk and ‘What the Constitution Means to Me; by Heidi Schreck, Phoenix Theatre and Cultural Center, 712 N. Illinois St., Indianapolis. Play tickets at https://www.phoenixtheatre.org/buy-tickets

  • Sept. 21, 12 -4 p.m Flanner House, 2424 Dr. MLK Jr. Dr., Indianapolis.

    To get involved and volunteer for National Voter Registration Week events with Women4Change, learn more and sign up for events.

    Place a request for a FREE postcard toolkit (includes postage, postcards, and lists are all included)

To learn more about the collective impact and voter access efforts of all Lift Every Voice and Vote partner organizations visit: http://lifteveryvoiceandvote.org 

W4C