Every Voter Counts
The ability to vote – to have a part in choosing the elected officials whose decisions impact our lives, families, communities, and country – is at the core of our democracy and what it means to be an American. Every American should have a voice in issues that affect them. Every voter counts. But under the guise of preventing so-called “voter fraud” and working in conjunction with advocacy groups, some governors and state legislators have passed laws making it harder for millions of Americans – especially students, seniors, and people of color – to register and to vote.
The Leadership Conference Education Fund, working with allies at the local, state, and national levels, is implementing a campaign to elevate and sustain a focus on voter protection and turnout; to strengthen the ability of individuals and organizations to overcome barriers to the right to vote; and to increase voter turnout among underrepresented populations that are the targets of voter suppression efforts.
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FACT SHEET: A Campaign to Protect Access to the Polls and Encourage Voter Participation in 2012 (PDF)U.S. Supreme Court to Hear Arizona’s Challenge to Federal ‘Motor Voter’ LawMarch 15, 2013 - Posted by Emily Van Dusen The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on Monday, March 18, in Arizona v. Inter Tribal Council of Arizona (ITCA), Inc., a case brought by the state of Arizona challenging the primacy of the federal National Voter Registration Act (NVRA or the “motor voter” bill) in regulating federal elections. Civil Rights Groups File Supreme Court Brief in Support of Section 5 of the Voting Rights ActFebruary 27, 2013 - Posted by Emily Van Dusen The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, joined by 28 other civil rights organizations, submitted an amicus curiae brief to the Supreme Court in Shelby County v. Holder, arguing for the constitutionality of maintaining a key section of the 1965 Voting Rights Act (VRA). Senate Hearing Focuses on Need to Reform How Americans VoteDecember 20, 2012 - Posted by Ron Bigler At a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing this week, civil and human rights advocates spoke to the need for reforming the antiquated and uneven process governing how Americans register and vote in elections. Overcoming Obstacles and Long Lines, American Voters Exercise Their Most Fundamental Civil and Human RightNovember 7, 2012 - Posted by Ron Bigler Last night's presidential election was an important event for all Americans who believe in building a nation as good as its ideals. It's Time to VoteNovember 6, 2012 - Posted by Ron Bigler As voters head to the polls today, the civil and human rights community is working tirelessly to ensure the rights and votes of all Americans. New Video: Ensuring Every Voter CountsOctober 8, 2012 - Posted by Ron Bigler Politicians in dozens of states have enacted new laws and rules that threaten to limit who can vote. Students, people of color, low-income individuals, people with disabilities, and older Americans are the most likely communities to be affected by these laws. Legislators, Civil Rights Groups Concerned about Conservative Group Challenging VotersOctober 5, 2012 - Posted by Avril Lighty A month before Election Day, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, the ranking member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, launched an investigation of conservative group True the Vote’s campaign to challenge voters’ registration status in several states across the country. Senate Judiciary Committee Examines Voting Rights Act's ImportanceSeptember 25, 2012 - Posted by Shannon Housley At a recent Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on voting rights and the impact of unrestricted money in elections, civil rights advocates called for strong enforcement of the nation’s voting rights laws in response to a wave of new state laws that are threatening to undermine democracy and make it harder for millions of Americans to participate fairly in elections. Senate Field Hearing Examines Barriers to Voting in FloridaJanuary 27, 2012 - Posted by Ron Bigler Recent changes and legislation affecting elections in Florida will have a negative effect on voter participation, civil and human rights advocates told members of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights during a field hearing held today in Tampa, Florida. Attorney General Holder Vows to Protect the Voting Rights of All AmericansDecember 21, 2011 - Posted by The Leadership Conference In a speech last week in Austin, Texas, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder affirmed his commitment to protecting the right to vote and indicated that the Department of Justice will be thoroughly reviewing new state voting laws to determine whether they are discriminatory. |
Voter IDStates with laws on the books requiring a government-issued photo ID to vote are: Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Pennsylvania (blocked for 2012 election), and Tennessee. Other states – Florida, Idaho, Louisiana, Michigan, Oklahoma, and New Hampshire – also require a photo ID. Learn more. Go to Election Protection at www.866ourvote.org to find out what your state is requiring to vote. And check out the Voter ID "Map of Shame" to see where laws have been passed, been stopped, or still face legal challenges. Voter ResourcesGet Election Protection's Smartphone App Asia and Pacific Islander American Vote State Voter Registration Guides Voices for Voting Rights (Minnesota) OrganizationsFairVote: The Center for Voting and Democracy The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Research & Reports
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