The right to vote undergirds our democracy. When we vote, we make our voices heard on the issues that matter most—from worker protections to access to abortion.
But voter turnout has been falling across Philadelphia for decades.
That’s why Nikil co-founded the South Philly Voter Project (SPVP) in 2022 with State Rep Elizabeth Fiedler.
There are many reasons people stop participating, but one of the only proven ways to get people to start participating again is through organizing. Campaigns can feel impersonal, but it’s different when neighbors talk to neighbors.
In South Philly, we know our neighbors. We look out for each other, and when it comes to voting our values, we show up for each other. And in both 2022 and 2024, our organizing has helped South Philadelphians show up.
SPVP empowers neighbors East of Broad Street and South of South Street to increase turnout in our community. Working with partner organizations—most notably the Democratic 1st, 2nd, and 39th Wards (A&B)—the Project trains volunteer leaders, strategically targets the local voters who make the biggest difference in our elections, and contacts those voters through neighbor-to-neighbor door knocking, phone calls, texts, and events.
