NAACP, Coalition Partners Reaffirm Unified Support for the Voting Rights Amendment Act at Press Conference
Washington, D.C. — Civil rights leaders held a press conference on Capitol Hill reaffirming their unified support for the Voting Rights Amendment Act (VRAA). Leaders called on the House of Representatives to advance the VRAA and protect voters before they go to the polls in November.
Click here to watch the press conference video archive.
From Lorraine C. Miller, Interim NAACP President and CEO:
“This is a critical time for action. As we approach the anniversary of Shelby v. Holder, we must act with renewed urgency in advancing the Voting Rights Amendment Act through the congressional process. The looming risk of voter disenfranchisement threatens our democracy.
Voter restrictions from state legislatures have brought forth court rulings that leave uncertainty as voters prepare for the 2014 mid-term elections.
In the last few days, a Brennan Center report states that of the 11 states with the highest black turnout in 2008, seven have new restrictions in place and of the dozen states with the largest growth in Hispanic population from 2000 to 2010, nine states passed laws making it harder to vote.â€
In light of these findings the NAACP has issued the following call to action for full civic participation and representation in 2014, including:
• Engaging directly with Members of Congress to call for hearings in the House on the Voting Rights Act Amendment;
• Enlisting registered voters to assist elders and first-time voters with securing all required documents and identification to register and vote;
• Encouraging faith leaders to educate their congregations on the importance of being registered and of voting in all elections; and
• Educating and deploying our network of 2.5 million digital activists to support unfettered access to the polls, and to urge that every vote be counted.
Failure to advance this legislation gives a free pass to voting discrimination!
