LETTER TO THE EDITOR /  As Dust Settles, Congress Must Make Restoration of Voting Rights Act a Top Priority

National Civil Rights Group Responds to Conclusion of Florida and Georgia Electoral Races

BY Kristen Clarke

“The scars and battle wounds from this election season make clear that voter suppression is rampant and unchecked. At every turn, we encountered voter suppression across Georgia and Florida aimed squarely at African Americans, Latinos and other voters of color. While contested races come to a close, we know that there are many who were disenfranchised and locked out because of malfeasance in some communities and gross negligence in others. In Georgia, we fought officials who found reasons to reject ballots of minority voters at higher rates, purged the registration rolls, consolidated polling sites and took other action directed at the state’s voters of color. In Florida, we fought racist robo calls, discriminatory signature match verification procedures, unprocessed mail ballots and other rules intended to silence Black and Latino voters.

“As the dust settles, Congress must make restoration of the Voting Rights Act and election reform its highest priority in the new year. This election season stands as powerful evidence of the corrosive effect of voter suppression in our democracy today.”

The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law leads Election Protection, the nation’s largest and longest-running voter protection program. By way of its 866-OUR-VOTE hotline, more than 31,000 voters registered complaints on Election and more than 5,000 voters sought help between November 7th and November 16th. The vast majority of calls received since Election Day came from voters in Florida and Georgia.

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