Louisville’s NAACP branch and other local organizations have announced an aggressive campaign to register voters before this fall’s election.Over the next couple of weeks Louisville’s NAACP, the Louisville Urban League and churches will visit supermarkets, drug stores and high schools to reach unregistered voters. Local NAACP President Raoul Cunningham says some local elections are just as important to their constituents as the presidential race.This is the most aggressive voting campaign his organization has undertaken, said Cunningham. Although the national NAACP does not allow a candidate endorsement, it does allow the organization to take sides on certain policies, he said.“We cannot endorse a candidate and we will not endorse a candidate, but we will make known to our constituents the positions that the candidates take on various issues as it affects education," said Cunningham.The school board elections this year---where nearly half the 14 candidates vying oppose student assignment—are among the most important for local voters, he said.The campaign also includes reaching out to former inmates whose voting rights have been restored.The group wants all voters to be aware of their rights, Cunningham said.“Due to the publicity given to voter suppression laws in some states and including our neighboring state of Indiana, we must make sure Louisville voters are aware of Kentucky election laws and nothing has changed since the last election," he said.After voter registration closes on October 9, the group plans to intensify voter education efforts and to help voters get to the polls.
