WASHINGTON, D.C. – In celebration of the anniversary of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, All Voting is Local’s Executive Vice President of Policy and Analytics, Dr. Nicholas Martinez, released the following statement:
“As we mark the 60th anniversary of the 1965 Voting Rights Act (VRA), All Voting is Local recognizes that the fight for a pro-voter agenda, supported by policies and legislation that meet the needs of voters, is still an ongoing priority.
“Across the country, there are renewed threats to elections that start with anti-voter attacks from the White House and federal government agencies overstepping their authority, to state houses re-litigating closed elections with new laws. This is a coordinated effort to block access to the ballot that goes against the very heart of the VRA. Sixty years later, we are seeing anti-voter attacks that include the White House’s illegal election executive order, bills in 27 states that would require voters to show a passport or birth certificate to vote, and recent requests by the U.S. Department of Justice to access state voter rolls and other election data that could potentially lead to misuse of voter information and flawed list maintenance practices that will ultimately disenfranchise eligible voters.
“Let the VRA serve as a reminder that we have the power to realize an inclusive democracy and stop ongoing attempts to silence people, particularly Black, Brown, Native American, and other historically excluded groups who were – and sometimes continue to be – denied the freedom to vote. We can continue safeguarding voting rights by advocating to expand ballot access for all citizens, building bridges with election officials, and supporting efforts to ensure that voters can cast their ballots freely and fairly in every election.”