#QTheVote campaign launched to boost registration

#QTheVote founder Trevor Burgess estimates more than 45,000 unregistered LGBTQ voters live in Wisconsin.

Another stat he offers: Donald Trump’s margin of victory over Hillary Clinton in Wisconsin in 2016 was 27,257.

In early February, Burgess, chairman of Neptune Flood, a provider of private flood insurance and TRB Development, a residential real estate development and consulting company, announced the launch of a drive to register LGBTQ people ahead of the November 2018 midterm election.

The campaign at qthevote.com makes use of registration tools at vote.org.

“We've seen it time and time again, one vote can make all the difference,” said Burgess. “Our community has a duty to the next generation to make sure we are heard at the ballot box.”

In the 2016 presidential election, five states — Wisconsin, Michigan, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Florida — were decided by less than 1.5 percent of the vote. Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Florida went for Trump and New Hampshire for Hillary Clinton.

#QTheVote estimates there were more unregistered LGBTQ people in each of those states than was the difference between winner and loser.

"It's simple math, analyzing data from Gallup and Project Vote, if every LGBT American had voted in 2016 we would not have our fundamental rights under attack today," Burgess said.

#QTheVote will involve using social media, online advertising and partnerships with community groups.