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Getting on the Ballot and Getting the Ballot Right

Getting on the Ballot and Getting the Ballot Right. Che Watkins June 25, 2013. Getting on the Ballot. 2007 - Introduced regional transportation funding legislation; no vote taken in House or Senate; study committee created.

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Getting on the Ballot and Getting the Ballot Right

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  1. Getting on the Ballot and Getting the Ballot Right Che Watkins June 25, 2013

  2. Getting on the Ballot • 2007 - Introduced regional transportation funding legislation; no vote taken in House or Senate; study committee created. • 2008 - Reintroduced regional transportation funding legislation; passed in the House (134-35) but failed to win 2/3 vote in Senate (35-18, failed by 3). • 2009 - The Senate passed a regional transportation funding measure by a vote of 53-2 and the House passed a separate statewide funding proposal by a vote of 149-18. A conference committee was unable to reach a compromise between the two mechanisms. • 2010 - The Georgia General Assembly passed the Transportation Investment Act. The House vote was 141-29 and the Senate vote was 43-8.

  3. Ballot Language Ballot Question: “Shall _____County’s transportation system and the transportation network in this region and the state be improved by providing for a 1 percent special district transportation sales and use tax for the purpose of transportation projects and programs for a period of ten years?” Preamble: “Provides for local transportation projects to create jobs and reduce traffic congestion with citizen oversight.”

  4. The Hand You Are Dealt • Election date • Size of region • Project selection process • Sunset date • Timeline • Exemptions

  5. What You Can Control • Governance – 501 c(3) and 501 c(4) (Citizens for Transportation Mobility and the Metro Atlanta Voter Education Network) • Budget and fundraising ($8.8 million total) • Community outreach (First Friday Group – over 150 organizations) • Messaging (Keep it simple – what’s in it for me?)

  6. Budget and Fundraising ($8.8 million) • Targeted mail (1.3M+ pieces; 20k handwritten postcards) • Social Media, web/online (28M+ impressions) • Broadcast (network, cable, radio) • Corporate program (350+ companies) • Outdoor (100+ boards) • Field teams (26 FTEs) • Speakers bureau (800+ presentations) • Phones (2 million robocalls, 300k personal)

  7. Key Messaging • Jobs, Jobs, Jobs • Less Traffic, More Jobs, Get Home Faster • Need to keep Atlanta a Competitive Place that can create jobs • Need to take steps toward a modern, clean and fast transit system for the entire region

  8. And Sometimes…Final Vote 37-63 • First-ever Regional Referenda for Georgia • Complex Issue • Economic conditions • Trust in government • Media • Opposition • No obvious “Champions” for entire region • Large, Diverse Region (45% of GA population)

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