Thank you Mr. Conyers and member of the committee for holding this discussion which will help focus our nation’s attention on voter suppression legislation that is sweeping this country. The right to vote and have your vote counted is the very foundation of our democracy and today it is under attack.
Americans for Campaign Reform - Campaign Legal Center- Common Cause - CREW - Democracy 21 - League of Women Voters - Public Citizen - U.S. PIRG
November 3, 2011
The President
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. President:
Our organizations are writing to you once again to express our grave concerns about the extraordinary failure of the Federal Election Commission to properly enforce and interpret the nation's campaign finance laws, and about your inaction to address this very damaging situation.
Statement by Lloyd Leonard, Director of Advocacy for the League of Women Voters of the United States.
The League of Women Voters has been working for fair and open elections for many decades. We have supported campaign finance reforms at the national level and in the states in order to protect our democracy from corruption and to ensure that the voices of regular voters can be heard.
The League sent a letter to Senators urging them to oppose the termination of the Election Assistance Commission, the only federal agency that devotes its full resources to improving American elections.
November 2, 2011
TO: Members of the U.S. Senate
FROM: Elisabeth MacNamara, President
RE: Oppose Termination of the Election Assistance Commission
In 1920, a major effort to register newly enfranchised voters and educate them in the political process was prominent on the agenda of the just formed League of Women Voters. A few years later, state Leagues were challenged to increase voter turnout by 25 percent, leading the Alabama League to note: “…it is a very difficult matter to qualify for the vote in Alabama…”
The High School Voter Registration Project is a nationwide effort to encourage young people--especially young minorities--to register to vote. Leagues are working in key states to engage and empower young people to participate in our democracy in 2012 and for years to come.
Why now?
League of Women Voters Urges U.S. Justice Department to Object
Washington, DC—The League of Women Voters of the United States has joined the League of Women Voters of Texas in urging Attorney General Eric Holder to reject the congressional redistricting plan submitted by the state of Texas on the grounds that it would disenfranchise minority voters and is in clear violation of the landmark Voting Rights Act.
This week, we joined with the League of Women Voters of Texas in urging the U.S. Department of Justice to object to the Texas congressional redistricting plan. The Texas plan is by far the most extreme example of racial gerrymandering among all the redistricting proposals passed by lawmakers so far this year. This plan is blatantly designed to stifle the voices of minority voters in favor of locking in partisan gains.
The League of Women Voters of the United States joined the League of Women Voters of Texas in urging Attorney General Eric Holder to reject the congressional redistricting plan submitted by the state of Texas on the grounds that it would disenfranchise minority voters and is in clear violation of the landmark Voting Rights Act.
The League of Women Voters is proud to celebrate 91 years of women voting. This Women’s Equality Day, we are grateful for all that our foremothers did to ensure women could actively participate in our political system, and we look forward to all that women will do in the future.
