For Immediate Release
Contact: Pamela Springs (NUL)
BettyAnneWilliams, JointCenter
COALITION SAYS RESTRICTIONS ON VOTING RIGHTS HAVE REACHED A STATE OF EMERGENCY
Millions of Seniors, Minorities, Youth and Veterans Could be Turned Away at the Polls Under New Laws
WASHINGTON, DC -- A broad coalition of civil rights, social justice and faith-based organizations, and groups representing communities of color today declared a “state of emergency” on voting rights in the U.S. and said that millions of people could be disenfranchised by restrictive voter laws.
As National Voter Registration Day approaches on September 25th the coalition—which includes groups representing African-Americans, Latinos, Asian-Americans, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders and Native Americans—are calling on their communities to take a few simple steps to ensure that all those who are eligible have what they need to fully participate in our democracy by voting:
Check your registration status
Check the documentation needed to register and to vote
Check the deadlines for registration and early/absentee voting
Check your state voter laws
Check your polling location and hours
The coalition also is highlighting a number of community-specific resources to assist with voter registration and information:
Advancement Project – Protect Our Vote 2012 www.advancementproject.org/campaigns/Protect-Your-Vote
NAACP – This is My Vote www.thisismyvote.org/
National Congress of American Indians – 2012 Native Vote – Every Vote Counts www.nativevote.org/
National Council of La Raza – Mobilize to Vote
www.nclr.org/register
www.nclr.org/challenge.
National Urban League – Occupy the Vote www.iamempowered.com/occupythevote
PICO Network – Let My People Vote http://www.piconetwork.org/tools-resources/let-my-people-vote-resources
AAJC – (materials available in Asian languages) http://www.advancingequality.org/section-203
In addition, there are general resources available for voter information and registration:
1-866-MYVOTE1 (1-866-698-6831) – To register to vote
1-866-OURVOTE or http://www.866ourvote.org/state — For information on voting
rights or to report problems with voting
Data compiled by a number of independent, non-partisan organizations indicate that minorities, senior citizens, veterans, youth, low-income people and previously convicted felons will bear the brunt of laws imposed over the past two years that cut back on voting days and times, impose rigid registration and identification requirements, and erroneously purge eligible voters from voter rolls.
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