Richmond, Va – Virginians are less than one month away from being able to cast a historic vote to protect reproductive freedom. Every week until Election Day, volunteers with the YES on 1 campaign will be reaching those voters by knocking doors, making phone calls, sharing their reproductive healthcare stories, and more.
The campaign’s voter contact period officially kicked off on August 15th in Richmond, Arlington, Virginia Beach, and Charlottesville. More than 70 volunteers knocked doors or phone banked across the Commonwealth during this first week.
If you’d like to cover a YES on 1 canvassing event in your area, please reach out to Mary Olivia Rentner.
“We have ambitious goals for our voter contact program,” said Hannah Servedio, Organizing Director for the YES on 1 campaign. “We know that when Virginians hear about the Reproductive Freedom Amendment, they make a plan to vote yes. The Commonwealth is made up of all different kinds of people, and this amendment is reasonable with commonsense protections that most Virginians agree with. Now it’s time to get it on everyone’s radar! Check out our website for the full calendar of upcoming events.”
“We had a great number of first time volunteers show up,” said Ally Walchak, Northern Virginia Organizer for the YES on 1 campaign. “Virginians are more than just motivated to vote, they want to be a part of the work leading up to Election Day. Even if they can’t knock doors, they are making calls, putting up yard signs, talking with their friends and family to spread the word about this historic reproductive freedom amendment.”
“Folks are definitely ready to vote yes this fall,” said Ty Begley, Richmond Organizer for the YES on 1 campaign. “I’ve had some pretty amazing conversations this weekend knocking doors. It’s one of my favorite parts of campaigning, those real moments where I get to connect with a stranger over how important reproductive freedom is for them, their family, and their community.
“I’m getting calls from people who want to volunteer for the YES on 1 campaign from all over the western part of Virginia,” said Maymie Burris, Charlottesville Organizer for the YES on 1 campaign. “From Bristol, to Blacksburg, to Charlottesville there are people organizing everywhere in support of reproductive freedom. It’s a really exciting moment across the state.”
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Virginians for Reproductive Freedom is a coalition of Virginia families, doctors, nurses, and advocacy organizations who believe that all Virginians should be able to make decisions regarding their own reproductive healthcare, including abortion care, without government interference, and no one should be faced with criminal punishment for making these decisions or providing healthcare.