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Gulfport Activists Seek 100 Percent Voter Turnout

Gulfportvotes%|Politics|Elections

The nonpartisan effort provides voter registration and voting process education as well as support for mail-in ballots or Election Day needs.

GULFPORT – Residents here have united to boost turnout in Gulfport in November’s general election to its highest level with the launch of a voter engagement campaign: Gulfport Votes 100%.

This nonpartisan effort provides voter registration and voting process education as well as support for mail-in ballots or Election Day needs. Partners include civic, business, educational, faith-based, and political organizations. Gulfport city officials have also expressed strong support for the campaign. The steering committee will use historic and current voter turnout metrics to gauge success.

The League of Women Voters of the St.Petersburg Area is the lead organization working to advance this effort.

“There are multiple benefits to Gulfport Votes 100%,” said LWVSPA Voter Services Chair Raechel Garafalo. “If all goes as planned, the community of Gulfport will set an example for others. We’ll then have a successful model, scaleable for other groups and communities.”

Gulfport resident and campaign leader Ingrid Bredenberg said, “Gulfport Votes 100% will demonstrate what is possible when people come together to exercise their rights to weigh in on laws and lawmakers who will govern them. Our community is diverse in many ways, but we are also engaged, energized and eager to express ourselves. The hope is to align many of the city’s diverse groups and individuals to provide a friendly, purposeful, yet neutral interaction among neighbors as we elevate Gulfport’s reputation as an inclusive and fun community.”

The roadmap for much of Gulfport Votes 100% was laid out back in the last decade by by Bredenberg and others in her former hometown, Montague Center, MA. Their efforts led to voter turnout reaching as high as 92  percent in 2004.

Gulfport Votes 100% has ramped up in recent weeks with a strong presence at Gulfport’s GeckoCon Ball, with campaign mascots, Captain Vote and Tanya Turnout, making an appearance. Visitors will also see them at GeckoFest and the upcoming Tuesday Fresh Markets and First Friday and Third Saturday Art Walks.

Gulfport Votes 100% will celebrate with a “Party @ the Polls” on Nov. 6.

For information to to join the effort, go to facebook.com.

Photo shows logo of Gulfport Votes 100%.

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