As the United States prepares for November 8th upcoming elections, the Georgia Muslim Voter project is making sure members of the Muslim community are fully prepared for the upcoming vote.
On Saturday, the Masjid Al-Furquan West Cobb Islamic Center hosted candidates from across the political spectrum to talk to the Muslim community.
“Our community members are really excited to be engaged,” Shafina Khabani, the Executive Director of the Georgia Muslim Voter Project, told 11 Alive.
“And so when we’re coming out to these events…it’s a really important platform for us to provide to our members.”
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Today I spoke with the staff and volunteers at the Georgia Muslim Voter Project. They estimate there are close to 80,000 registered voters in Georgia’s Muslim community and they want to make sure all of them make it to the polls on November 8th. @11AliveNews pic.twitter.com/W3eHDFLKnl
— Karys Belger (@KarysBelger) October 15, 2022
Civic Engagement
The Georgia Muslim Voter project (GAMVP) started in 2015 to encourage more civic engagement in the Muslim community and to push for more attention from those running for and occupying public office.
“We actually have a list of approximately 70 to 80,000 likely registered Muslim voters in the state of Georgia,” she said.
“So whereas at one time in 2015, where we were maybe reaching out and calling 800 to 1000 Muslim voters.”
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Holding events in Athens, Columbus, Macon, and Savannah, GAMVP volunteers hope their efforts will lead to more engagement from the Muslim community.
“We’re here,” she said. “We live in these communities and we have something to say.”
Muslims played a big role in Biden’s 2020 victory through their high turnout in the critical swing states of Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Michigan.
Overall, Muslim turnout was at least 84%, and 69% of those voted for Biden, based on an exit poll by CAIR.