As soon as the news began to receive national and statewide attention, people from across the country contacted the Kansas Democratic Party, asking what they could do to help. Within 24 hours, the KDP sprang into action with a plan.
Together we organized attention from around the country, putting up TV, radio, newspaper, Facebook, and print ads in both English and Spanish to spread the word about what we were doing to make sure registered voters were able to cast their votes before or on Election Day. We rented buses and ramped up our local canvassing, skyrocketing the number of submitted advance ballots in Ford County to the largest share of any county in Kansas – from 26.5% in 2014 to 52.6% in 2018!
Kansas Democratic Party now putting fighting voter suppression -- and the ridiculous voting situation in Dodge City specifically -- front and center at their homepage: https://t.co/ABo79UqFrd
— Rachel Maddow MSNBC (@maddow) November 2, 2018
Since news of the ongoing voter suppression in #DodgeCity broke, we've been blown away by the support you and people around the country have shown for our work to make sure every eligible voter in Dodge City is able to cast their vote and have it counted. Here's what we're doing:
— Kansas Dems (@KansasDems) November 3, 2018
We have two organizers on the ground who are working tirelessly to both recruit and train volunteers and help us Get Out The Vote. And Teresa Garcia Krusor, our DNC National Committeewoman, has been in #DodgeCity since Wednesday to provide critical support to our effort. pic.twitter.com/z5tXnBylg8
— Kansas Dems (@KansasDems) November 3, 2018
We also have two hotlines – one in English and one in Spanish – that voters in #DodgeCity can call to arrange a ride to the polls. pic.twitter.com/nucftBp8Rm
— Kansas Dems (@KansasDems) November 3, 2018
We decided to run Facebook ads in #DodgeCity to promote our hotlines and the updated information about when and where to vote. In addition to that, we're airing TV ads on Univision, not just in Dodge City, but across #KS01 and #KS04. pic.twitter.com/Af9IAf5CgX
— Kansas Dems (@KansasDems) November 3, 2018
We're now on the radio, too, with 60 ads per day across two Spanish language stations and a music station!
— Kansas Dems (@KansasDems) November 3, 2018
Readers of the @dcglobe will see our ads on the front page every day through Election Day. We also ran an ad in the local Spanish weekly this past week! pic.twitter.com/squIpMXedj
— Kansas Dems (@KansasDems) November 3, 2018
Postcards were sent to more than 1,500 households to inform recipients in Spanish and English about our hotline and election information.
— Kansas Dems (@KansasDems) November 3, 2018
For the past week, canvassers have been knocking on hundreds of doors and distributing information about voting and our candidates! The #DodgeCity High School Democrats are leading this local, community-centered initiative. pic.twitter.com/pwSzSRX0WX
— Kansas Dems (@KansasDems) November 3, 2018
On Election Day, we'll have two buses and two vans in #DodgeCity to drive voters to and from the out-of-town polling place. https://t.co/zZmTZOfQEq
— Kansas Dems (@KansasDems) November 3, 2018
Again, thank you for your ongoing support. Because of you, we have the resources to help this community make its voice heard. On to Election Day!
— Kansas Dems (@KansasDems) November 3, 2018
Rachel @Maddow: “It does show you that things change, even in places where it seems like they cannot ever change...now voters' access to the polls is improved in Dodge City, and @LauraKellyKS' in charge of state government, and Kris Kobach is unemployed.” pic.twitter.com/DsgfpllRLa
— Kansas Dems (@KansasDems) February 2, 2019
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