Two groups of young people aim to shake up Arizona’s voter rolls

PHOENIX — Fed up with a lack of action on measures to crack down on gun violence, two groups made up mostly of young people are out to change Arizona’s voter rolls by registering thousands of young voters this summer.

NextGen Arizona and March for Our Lives announced Thursday they are registering new voters and seeking politicians sympathetic to their cause.

The groups said they are launching a Knock-A-Thon to register voters, with a goal of knocking on 6,000 Arizona doors in one week.

NextGen Arizona director Jalakoi Solomon said they have a big voter registration goal in mind: “We’re hoping to register over 10,000 new voters,” Solomon said.

Solomon and March for Our Lives organizer Jordan Harb said Gov Doug Ducey’s inaction on violence associated with guns has motivated young Arizonans to get organized at the ballot box.

The groups said they are tapping into the power of young voters who want changes in gun laws, ousting Ducey from office and putting a Democrat into the U.S. Senate.

They are especially critical of Ducey, accusing the governor of not taking action on gun violence.

March for Our Lives organizer Toni St. John said during a rally at the Arizona State Capitol Thursday she lives in fear of gun violence.

“If I sit on the sidelines and let my fears, my dreams and my voice be rendered useless I will never see the future that I want to live in, “ St. John said.

Harb said they are out to end violence associated with guns.

“Many are living in a perpetual state of fear in all aspects of life,” Harb said.

“It stops now.”

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