Voting Rights Coalition Sues to Defend Freedom to Vote for Louisianans
Baton Rouge, LA — Today, a coalition of voting rights groups is suing the state of Louisiana for a blatant violation of Louisianans’ freedom to vote. The state passed a proof of citizenship law that is unconstitutionally vague and violates the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA). If implemented, the law will disproportionately harm voters of color, women, new voters, voters with past felony convictions, and other historically disenfranchised communities.
The League of Women Voters of Louisiana (LWVLA), Voice of the Experienced (VOTE), the NAACP Louisiana State Conference, and Power Coalition for Equity and Justice (PCEJ) filed suit to ensure all eligible Louisiana voters can make their voices heard without being burdened by potentially onerous voter registration requirements. The groups are represented by Campaign Legal Center (CLC), Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (Lawyers’ Committee), and Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC).
“SB 436, which places unnecessary barriers to Louisianans’ ability to register to vote, is not only confusing, but is also illegal,” said M. Christian Green, president of the League of Women Voters of Louisiana. “Furthermore, the law unlawfully restricts the League of Women Voters of Louisiana’s ability to do our core nonpartisan work of registering and educating voters. At the end of the day, educating voters is our mission — policing citizenship is not. This law takes Louisiana in the wrong direction, and we look forward to challenging it in court.”
“SB 436 is a solution in search of a problem — one that will make registering to vote harder or impossible for tens of thousands of Louisiana voters,” said Celina Stewart, CEO of the League of Women Voters of the US. “Voter registration should be a simple and accessible process, yet across the country, the League is fighting bills and laws that seek to make it harder for Americans, particularly women and voters of color, to register to vote. We are proud that wherever you see these unlawful documentary proof of citizenship bills, you see the League fighting back.”
“We are deeply concerned about SB 436 and the impact it will have on our members, and all Louisianans, when registering to vote,” said Dr. Michael McClanahan, president of the NAACP Louisiana State Conference. “By making voter registration harder, it deliberately undermines the right to vote for countless individuals in our community. The Louisiana State Conference of the NAACP stands against any attempt to disenfranchise voters and stands committed to ensuring that every eligible voter has the opportunity to participate in our democracy.”
“This law is an attempt to suppress the voices of Black voters and other communities of color under the false pretense of protecting election integrity. It is dangerously vague, unconstitutional, and in clear violation of the National Voter Registration Act. Rather than addressing real challenges facing our democracy, this policy creates confusion, fear, and unnecessary barriers for eligible voters—particularly those who have historically been pushed to the margins. Louisiana should be working to expand access to the ballot, not entrenching new forms of voter suppression. We joined this lawsuit because our communities deserve fairness, and the full protection of their rights,” said Ashley Shelton, Founder/CEO of Power Coalition for Equity and Justice (PCEJ).
“This law has nothing to do with voter integrity — it’s about voter suppression. If you’re a returning citizen without SB 436's unnecessary documentation, you’re being forced to spend money just to prove to the government what it already knows: that you have the right to vote. That’s a modern-day poll tax, plain and simple — and it needs to be taken off the books,” said Alfred Marshall, organizer for Voice of the Experienced.
“SB 436 threatens to silence countless voters across the state by potentially forcing them to jump through new, burdensome and unnecessary hoops when registering to vote,” said Danielle Lang, senior director of voting rights at Campaign Legal Center. “Campaign Legal Center — alongside our coalition partners — will continue to fight for the freedom to vote for everyday Louisianans.”
“Many eligible citizens lack the necessary documentation to prove their citizenship and will be barred from accessing the ballot box. This law is a useless solution in search of a nonexistent problem, and it does nothing but block eligible voters from participating in our democracy,” said Javon Davis, associate counsel for the Voting Rights Project at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. “The requirements especially harm Black people and other communities of color—groups who already face barriers to voting. We are filing this lawsuit to protect the fundamental right to vote in Louisiana and ensure that no eligible citizen is silenced by unnecessary red tape.”
“Registering to vote should be simple and free from unnecessary barriers, but Louisiana’s SB 436 unlawfully complicates the process,” said Ahmed Soussi, Senior Staff Attorney at the Southern Poverty Law Center. “SPLC is proud to represent the plaintiffs in this fight to protect our fundamental right to vote.”
Follow the latest updates on this matter through our case page.
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Campaign Legal Center is a nonpartisan legal organization dedicated to solving the wide range of challenges facing American democracy. Founded in 2002, CLC fights for every American’s freedom to vote and participate meaningfully in the democratic process.
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