Testimony of Demos Counsel Lisa J. Danetz before the United States House of Representatives Subcommittee on Elections on the challenges the National Voter Registration Act presents to public assistance agencies.
Testimony on the need to restore Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act’s protections against purposeful racial discrimination in jurisdictions that are subject to the Section 5 preclearance requirement.
Same Day Registration is a proven reform that can substantially increase voter turnout among eligible voters -- particularly among those with traditionally lower rates of voter participation -- without compromising the integrity of elections or substantially increasing costs.
We have faith that with the tireless work of the grassroots organizers, we will one day live in an America where every election — in every corner of the country — is free and fair for everyone.
We strongly support ACA 6, a bill that would place a state constitutional amendment on the ballot to restore voting rights to Californians on parole, and AB 646, which would make corresponding changes to the Elections Code.
On Ohio's barriers to voting — including the practice of purging infrequent voters from the registration rolls — and how the elimination of Ohio’s same-day registration period negatively impacts Ohio voters.
“You definitely get the feeling that they’re trying to run the numbers up — that they want to be able to say that there’s a lot of voter fraud out there."
“In today’s decision, the court recognized that Spanish-speaking voters are not second-class citizens and should not have to wait for their voting rights to be fully protected.”
There is an ideal pathway for knocking down a barrier that has kept so many voting-eligible citizens away from the polls: automatic voter registration.
"The bill that the governor is expected to sign into law establishes blatant wealth discrimination in the restoration of rights process. The bill will create two classes of returning citizens… [and] under this bill your ability to pay will govern whether you can participate in democracy.”
Federal law requires Spanish-language official ballots, official election-related materials, and oral election assistance. Florida's Secretary of State should adopt rules that ensure statewide compliance with federal law.
We write to applaud the introduction of HB 57, which would end felony disenfranchisement and facilitate full political and civic participation for thousands of New Mexico voters.