Launching in Ohio, the Freedom Is At Stake Bus Tour is partnering with SEIU, Vote to Live, NAACP, NextGen America, PushBlack, Black Lives Matter PAC, and other key organizations to mobilize communities that have historically faced barriers to voting. The tour will make stops at HBCUs, churches, senior centers, and high-traffic areas across eight key states to energize voters and promote early voting.

Media is asked to RSVP HERE to attend 

 

Washington, DC – Registration Nation Action Fund, in partnership with several advocacy groups, is proud to launch the “Freedom Is At Stake” GOTV Bus Tour, an initiative focused on increasing voter turnout and participation among historically marginalized communities in swing states across the South and Midwest in the lead-up to the 2024 elections.

The tour will run from October 8 through November 5, 2024, beginning in Ohio and traveling through Florida, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin. The goal is to engage young people, Black voters, and other communities that have faced systemic barriers to voting by organizing early voting events, providing transportation to polling locations, and creating a sense of unity through community celebrations and civic action.

This effort is designed to impact the outcomes in the swing states and close elections where the margin of victory will be razor-thin. The success of this campaign will hinge on boosting enthusiasm and turnout, particularly among young Black voters and youth. While we are already seeing increased energy in these communities, we know it will take a concerted effort to maintain this momentum, especially as the presidential race remains in a dead heat in the swing states where turnout for these communities will make the difference. That is why this coalition will remind voters what’s at stake—our rights, our freedoms—and why it’s so important to show up at the polls.

“We know that voting is the most powerful tool we have to shape our future, and yet so many are still left out of the process,” said Andi Pringle, Founder and CEO of Registration Nation Action Fund. “The Freedom Is At Stake Bus Tour is about making voting accessible and impactful, ensuring that every voice can be heard, especially in states like Ohio, where critical swing elections will decide the future of Congress and beyond.”

Ohio will be the first stop on the tour, with the state’s early in-person voting starting on October 8th. The bus tour launch underscores the importance of Ohio’s key elections, which will play a decisive role in shaping the Senate and House. The tour’s primary focus is on engaging communities of color and young voters, whose participation will help determine the future of reproductive rights, worker protections, racial justice and efforts to push back against the far-right agenda of Project 2025.

“Ohio may not be a traditional battleground, but its swing elections will determine the balance of power in Congress,” said Quentin James, Founder and President of The CollectivePAC. “Black voters and young voters here can make all the difference, and that’s why we are launching the tour in Ohio. Our work will influence not only Ohio but the entire nation as we fight to protect our rights and ensure every vote counts.”

The bus tour will feature “Vote to Live” stages with national and local speakers, entertainment, and giveaways at each stop. Attendees will also have access to voter registration resources and information about early voting options. 

NextGen America will play a pivotal role in the tour by focusing on youth engagement. “For over a decade, NextGen has worked across the country to empower young people to engage in our elections and have their voices heard at the ballot box,” said Harry Johnson, VP of Strategic Partnerships for NextGen America. “With Election Day less than a month away, we are ensuring that young voters have everything they need to create a government that respects us, reflects us, and represents us.”

Key partners supporting the effort include Vote to Live, SEIU, NAACP, NextGen America, PushBlack, along with Black Lives Matter PAC, Voices For A Better Future PAC, Mobilize Justice, Rainbow Push Coalition, and the Black Alliance for Just Immigration, all working together to mobilize voters and ensure historically marginalized communities have a voice in shaping the outcome of the 2024 elections.

Tour Highlights and Event Schedule (subject to change):

 

• Ohio – October 8, 2024 (Cleveland and Maple Heights – First Day of Early Voting)
• Pennsylvania – October 9, 2024 (Philadelphia)
• Pennsylvania – October 10, 2024 (Philadelphia)
• Pennsylvania – October 11, 2024 (Pittsburgh)
• Michigan – October 12, 2024 (Detroit)
• Virginia – October 15, 2024 (Norfolk, Norfolk State University)
• Virginia – October 16, 2024 (Petersburg, Virginia State University)
• North Carolina – October 17, 2024 (Charlotte, Johnson C. Smith University)
• North Carolina – October 18, 2024 (Winston-Salem/Greensboro, Winston-Salem State, North Carolina A&T, Bennett College)
• North Carolina – October 19, 2024 (Raleigh/Durham, Shaw University, NC Central, St. Augustine)
• Wisconsin – October 22, 2024 (Milwaukee – First Day of Early Voting)
• Georgia – October 24, 2024 (Macon, Fort Valley State University)
• Georgia – October 25, 2024 (Atlanta Center, One Music Fest, Spelman College, Morehouse College, Clark-Atlanta University)
• Georgia – October 26, 2024 (Savannah, Savannah State University – Homecoming)
• Florida – October 27, 2024 (Daytona, Bethune-Cookman University)
• Florida – October 28, 2024 (Tallahassee, Florida A&M University)

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Registration Nation Action Fund is a 501(c)(4) organization focused on expanding voter registration and building ongoing civic dialogue with young people and communities of color. Through grassroots efforts and strategic partnerships, we work to engage those who have been historically excluded from the democratic process.