Alabama Youth to Launch CALLoween Voter Initiative
The statewide effort aims to contact 10,000 potential voters to increase turnout for the upcoming midterm election.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Civic Engagement
Live Poll
Do you believe youth-led activism effectively encourages adults in your community to vote?
Operation Forward will mobilize 1,000 youth volunteers across Alabama on October 31, 2026, to conduct a phone banking event known as CALLoween. The initiative aims to reach 10,000 potential voters to address historically low participation in state elections.
Why it matters
The program seeks to counter low voter engagement after only 23.11 percent of Alabama's registered voters participated in the May primary. The organization launched in response to the state's congressional map redistricting process.
The initiative involves 1,000 participants aged 10 to 18 who are tasked with calling 10 family members or friends each. This statewide effort is supported by adult organizers and includes participation from the NAACP Youth Council and Omega Psi Phi.
The players
Operation Forward
This youth-led organization was established in 2026 to advocate for civic participation in the wake of state redistricting.
NAACP Youth Council
This national organization works to promote the civil rights and civic engagement of young people across the country.
Omega Psi Phi
This historically Black fraternity is involved in community service and social action initiatives throughout Alabama.
The details
Youth volunteers will receive food and candy as compensation for participating in the CALLoween phone banking event, which includes support from adult organizers. Participants in Montgomery and Irondale will use provided scripts to contact potential voters during the Halloween weekend.
Timeline
Operation Forward was founded in May 2026.
Omega Psi Phi will host a phone banking event on October 30, 2026.
Operation Forward and the NAACP will host phone banking events on October 31, 2026.
The midterm election is scheduled for November 3, 2026.
Political Context
Opponents of the current redistricting maps argue that the process marginalized specific communities, while state officials maintain the new lines adhere to legal requirements. Advocacy groups continue to push for judicial reviews to challenge the constitutionality of the state's electoral geography.
Residents may receive phone calls from youth volunteers during Halloween weekend as part of this outreach effort. Those contacted can use the provided information to verify their registration status and polling locations ahead of the November 3 election.
The takeaway
Increasing civic participation among youth can serve as a long-term strategy to address low turnout trends in state elections. Young voters and their families can boost local engagement by verifying registration details early and prioritizing participation in all primary and general election cycles.
What happens next
The midterm election is scheduled to take place on November 3, 2026, where the impact of these voter mobilization efforts will be tested.
Further reading
Learn more about local efforts to bolster participation in the Alabama Civic Engagement section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Al.
Live Poll
Do you believe youth-led activism effectively encourages adults in your community to vote?
