Democracy For All
We believe in changing Georgia from the ground up. That’s why we are committed to training and mobilizing Georgians to advance climate and environmental justice through civic engagement.
The State of Democracy in Georgia
The total population of Georgia as of 2018, according to the U.S. Census Bureau
The number of polling places that have been closed across the state by Georgia county election officials since 2012.
The number of voters purged by Georgia's Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger in December 2019 alone.
%
The percentage of Georgia's electorate that got purged— more than enough to change the outcome of close elections
The number of people on Georgia's voter rolls, down from the 7.4 million that were on the rolls before the recent voter purge.
The total number of counties in Georgia
The number of voters removed from voter rolls in 2017, this was the largest single removal of voters in Georgia history led by then secretary of state, Brian Kemp.
The total number of cities in Georgia
Voting Rights in Georgia
Georgia has a grave problem of systemic voter suppression. The history of voter suppression and the exclusion of people of color, women, and indigenous people from our democracy has continued rippling effects on our state. These groups are also most impacted by environmental pollution and climate change. Because of this, they naturally rank climate change, environment, and health among their top issues when voting.
Since the Supreme Court’s ruling in Shelby County v. Holder, election boards have had carte blanche to eliminate polling locations, change election rules, or propose unfair maps – just as they did before the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Since 2012, Georgia county election officials have closed 214 polling places across the state. As a result, a third of Georgia’s counties now have fewer polling places than they had in 2012. More than half of the counties impacted by these closures have been counties where poverty rates are higher than the state average or whose population is over 25 percent Black.
Georgia has also been on the national stage for ongoing voter purges. In December 2019 alone, over 300,000 voters were purged from the rolls by Georgia’s Secretary of State. That is 4% of the electorate here in Georgia — more than enough to change the outcome of close elections.
We cannot be idle and wait for change. We need to take action now and make the change we want by voting and letting legislators know that we will not be ignored.
Why taking the census is essential to protecting the environment
Every ten years, the U.S. government issues a census survey to collect information about the American population. The information that is collected is used to allocate more than $1.5 trillion in federal funding to states and local governments. The census also informs the recalculation of the number of seats that each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Defending Democracy to Defend the Planet
Gerrymandering is the term used to describe political districts being drawn in a way to give power to one party over another. It’s allows a whole part of the population to go unheard and to be ignored without consequences… and this is a major problem for pro-environment voters.
How You Can Help
As Georgia residents, it’s vital to get involved civically and locally to improve the quality of our lives and our communities. You can vote, get involved in local and statewide elections, volunteer, and more to bring lasting positive change to Georgia.
Join a local organization or citizen advisory board
- There are a lot of civic and community organizations that gather to discuss and solve community problems. Attending meetings and events is a great first step to getting involved. Once you’re comfortable, consider regularly volunteering, donating, or participating in fundraising on behalf of the organization.
Don't let your voice go unheard! Speak up and share Your Story
- Take some time to learn about the issues on our website or on our social media channels. Then make sure your elected officials know where you stand on issues by calling or sending personal emails, signing petition, contacting the media through letters to the editor, canvassing, and protesting.
We can’t expect climate justice if we don't demand it from elected leaders
- In America, approximately 20.1 million environmentalists are registered to vote, but in the 2014 midterm elections, only 4.2 million of them voted. No matter who wins an election we need every potential voter to make their voices heard.
Democracy for All of Georgia
Democracy For All is a campaign launched by Georgia Conservation Voters. We focus on voter registration, voter mobilization, and keeping voters informed environmental issues. We believe in a fair and equitable political process, and will support efforts to protect voting rights. Add your name to join us as we demonstrate grassroots demand for pollution-free communities and a healthier, more sustainable and just future.