Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund reaches thousands of Mainers through evidence-based deep canvassing program

A model for organizers around the U.S., the Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund has trained groups in a dozen states through its Bridging the Gap Deep Canvassing program

PORTLAND, MAINE — With abortion now banned in 14 states and gubernatorial and state legislative races taking center stage ahead of the November election, Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund’s deep canvassing program serves as a model for reproductive rights advocacy work across the United States.

Media Invitation -

Observe in-person Bridging the Gap canvass

• Saturday, Oct 1, 2022, 9:15 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Media should check in at 9 a.m. and RSVP by 5 p.m. Friday, September 30

• Windham, Maine (specific location to be provided upon request)
• RSVP to Lisa Newcomb, [email protected]

Since launching the Bridging the Gap program in 2015, PPMEAF staff and volunteers have refined this groundbreaking deep canvassing technique, held conversations with nearly 3,000 Mainers — including 300 in 2022 alone — and helped train hundreds of advocates and activists nationwide. 

The PPMEAF Bridging the Gap program is proven to increase support for pro-reproductive rights policies, motivate supporters to become activists, and increase voter engagement, according to a scientific study conducted in 2018. The program also produces transformative results in the way volunteers become and remain engaged, creating conditions for sustainable movement growth. 

Polling shows that a strong majority of Mainers supports reproductive rights and healthcare access, including abortion care. PPMEAF’s deep canvassing program seeks to educate Mainers about abortion, reduce abortion stigma, inform voters about the importance of elections and voting, and to engage in honest conversations about reproductive rights.

Statement from Nicole Clegg, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs for the Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund

“Having meaningful conversations with voters about abortion is the clearest way to protect our rights and that’s what hundreds of volunteers are doing here in Maine. Whatever a voter’s views are at the start, by the end of the conversation, it’s always the same end result: Mainers don’t want politicians interfering in decisions they make about pregnancy and their own reproductive healthcare.

Thousands of these conversations have shown us that urban, rural, Democrat, Republican, woman, man, young or old, Mainers simply want to be supported, respected and trusted in their decision-making. They don’t want politicians judging and shaming them for personal, private medical decisions. With abortion rights are on the ballot this November, our deep canvassing program helps voters connect their values with how they vote.”

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Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund is an independent, nonpartisan, not-for-profit membership organization formed as the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood of Northern New England in Maine. PPNNE has four health centers in Maine and sees more than 12,000 patients a year.