LWV Staff

LWVUS and the state Leagues of Alabama, Georgia and Kansas filed a brief on appeal for LWV v. Newby. At stake is a pivotal decision which could affect voter registration access for tens of thousands of voters before Election Day. Every day, eligible voters in these three states are being prevented from registering to vote—and civic groups like the League are being prevented from conducting effective voter registration drives—because of a recent decision by Brian Newby, Executive Director of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, to unilaterally approve requests from Alabama, Georgia and Kansas to require documentary proof of citizenship when an applicant uses the federal mail voter registration application form. The Help America Vote Act of 2002 requires the EAC itself to approve any changes, but Mr. Newby ignored that obligation. The League is asking for these restrictions to be nullified in time for voters to fully register and participate in this year’s election.

"We will appeal to protect the critical rights of voters in these three states, especially during this election year,” said Chris Carson, president of the League of Women Voters U.S.

League set agenda for the next biennium and elected unanimously Chris Carson of Burbank, California as the organization's 19th national president.

“Our members are fanning out across the Capitol to tell their elected representatives that it is well past time to right this wrong. We need them to pass the Voting Rights Advancement Act (VRAA),” President MacNamara said.

“We are disappointed that the Senate Democrats’ campaign finance proposal, announced today, falls short of what is needed to keep big money from dominating our politics,” said President MacNamara.

Action on voting rights in 2016 looks very similar to last year. On the whole, states are passing less restrictive election laws, and even better, more and more states are reforming their election process to help voters.

“This decision sends a dangerous signal to voters across the country, one the League is prepared to fight at every opportunity,” said President MacNamara.

“We are pleased that the images of several of the inspirational leaders who fought to secure the right to vote for women will grace our nation's currency," said President MacNamara.

The Effective Community Engagement award will reward innovative democracy-building programs that prioritized successful recruitment and engagement of strategic partners and/or new volunteers, particularly those focused on better serving key underrepresented groups such as young voters and new citizens. Anyone can vote and the polls will close on May 31.

“Big money, secret money, is taking over our elections while the FEC sits on its hands. It is time for a change – a big change,” said President MacNamara.