DNC Launches Voting Rights Institute
McAuliffe Pledges All Out Effort to Ensure Democracy is Not Denied in Future Elections
Washington, D.C., May 1, 2001 -- Further emphasizing their commitment to election reform, Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Terry McAuliffe and National Development Chair Maynard Jackson will host press conferences today, National Law Day, with community activists in Washington, DC and Atlanta, GA, to launch the DNC's Voting Rights Institute-an effort to highlight the critical importance of voting rights and the fact that democracy gets denied during every election cycle across the country.
The DNC Voting Rights Institute (VRI) is designed to highlight the flaws in our current voting system and to encourage reasonable solutions to voting irregularities. Today's announcement is designed to remind the nation of the building block of our democracy-the right to vote.
"The mission of the DNC's Voting Rights Institute is to deepen the democratic process. Every citizen of this nation has the right to register to vote, enter a polling place without impediment, cast their vote and have that vote counted," said McAuliffe. "Protecting these rights preserves and deepens our democracy. It is every citizen's burden to ensure that no one is denied those fundamental rights, and our Party's mission to show leadership on protecting and expanding voting rights at every opportunity."
VRI will hold four regional hearings during the months of May and June to address voting irregularities and to make real recommendations for short-term and long-term solutions. The first regional Hearing will be held on Monday, May 7, in Riviera Beach, Florida with other regional hearings to follow in Newark, NJ, Detroit, MI, and Albuquerque, NM.
At the culmination of the regional hearings and in time for the next congressional session, VRI will develop a Voting Rights Action Plan (VRAP) with a legislative agenda for minimal federal standards. The VRAP will include an internal voting rights component for field operations, voter training/education and GOTV efforts.
Additionally, as a permanent arm of the DNC, VRI will provide legal, political and technical support to state and local parties and Democratic candidates to ensure that all local, state and federal elections are conducted in compliance with civil rights laws, voting rights laws, and election laws. VRI will also advocate enforcement and enhancement of the Voting Rights Act and other laws to ensure and protect full and equal access to the franchise.
"This is the beginning of a nationwide grassroots movement to guarantee the basic right of every American to vote, without having this most important constitutional protection trampled upon," DNC National Development Chairman Jackson said. "When this freedom is exercised, when all ballots are cast and every vote is counted our nation is collectively strengthened and our people are empowered to create their own future."
Contact: Jenny Backus, (202) 863-8148