AOC Mobilizes Activists to Re-register Thousands of 'Inactive' NYC Voters
The 'Project Reactivation' initiative aims to bring tens of thousands of voters back onto active registration lists ahead of midterm elections.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has launched a campaign to identify and re-register as many as 80,000 "inactive" voters in New York City, urging her supporters to help boost Democratic turnout in the upcoming midterm elections.
The initiative, dubbed "Project Reactivation," targets voters whose registration status has been changed to inactive due to not voting in two successive federal elections or failing to respond to notices about address changes from the Board of Elections (BOE).
"These voters are at risk of being purged from the voter file. In New York City alone, there are over 80,000 inactive voters," stated a note to supporters from Team AOC. The campaign is organizing training sessions for activists on how to engage these voters and help them update their registration.
According to the city BOE, there are 446,479 inactive voters currently on the city's rolls. BOE spokesman Vincent Ignizio clarified that inactive voters can still cast ballots, but if they miss two consecutive federal elections while in inactive status, they are removed from the rolls and must re-register.
AOC's campaign views the effort as crucial for Democratic success, with an internal message asserting, "The pathway to win back the House is increasingly proving to be through New York State."
The congresswoman, who represents parts of Queens and The Bronx, has recently been expanding her political activities, including an upstate tour and exploring a potential 2028 presidential or U.S. Senate run. The "Project Reactivation" was also part of her upstate tour.
However, voting experts suggest that re-engaging inactive voters can be challenging. Jerry Skurnik, a senior consultant with Engage Voters US, noted that many inactive voters may have moved out of the city or passed away, making them difficult to reach. He added that candidates often find such lists unreliable and not cost-effective for outreach.
The BOE typically sees the number of inactive voters remain relatively consistent year over year, with individuals being removed from the list due to confirmed moves or deaths, while new voters are added to the inactive status.