OUR IMPACT
GDVP & the 2004 election...
GDVP was created in 2004 to maximize the voting strength of the disability community in Georgia and was able to make a significant impact during its first year.
GDVP activities:
- Recruited total of 18 founding member organizations were recruited (see list on next page).
- Launched an outreach effort encompassing approximately 50,000 members of the disability community.
- Mailed voter registration packets to unregistered voters.
- Mobilized voters through postcard reminders and prerecorded phone calls.
GDVP findings:
- Among those 50,000 members, public records indicated a 40-percent registration rate.
- An increase in voter turnout was achieved: 76 percent of registered voters turned out to vote in November 2004.
- Absentee voting increased by 10 percent in 2004 over the General Elections of 2000.
- Organizations that conducted voter mobilization efforts showed an average increase of 9 percent in voter participation from 2000 to 2004.
GDVP’s impact, even within a very short time frame, has been significant for the Georgia disability community. Long term, GDVP has the potential to extensively impact the policy that is enacted by elected officials.