Call Recording: The Bad News (And Some Good) on Voting Access in the States

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A long line of people in face masks waiting to vote
An examination by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution found that human error, equipment failure and a complicated, multicomputer voting system combined to create chaos that left some Georgia voters waiting as long as eight hours to cast ballots during June 9, 2020, statewide primary elections. Photo by John Spink/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS/Alamy Live News.

Campaign Legal Center (CLC) hosted the virtual event, “The Bad News (and Some Good) on Voting Access in the States” about how state legislatures are advancing and passing a record number of voting bills in 2021.

During the event, Trevor Potter, president and founder of CLC, provided opening remarks. A panel discussion followed, featuring CLC experts Jonathan Diaz, legal counsel, voting rights, and Caleb Jackson, legal counsel, voting rights, as well as special guests Torey Dolan, native vote law fellow, Indian Legal Clinic at Arizona State University and Nancy Leifer, president, League of Women Voters of Montana.  

The panelists discussed the trends in state legislation pertaining to voting access and the impact the bills would have on voters, focusing on the types of proposals that could help make voting safer and more accessible for us all, and the ones that could create deliberate barriers to voting.

The panelists also highlighted how the For the People Act, H.R. 1/S. 1, a bill moving through the U.S. Congress, would create national standards for voting access if signed into law.

In order to make the promise of democracy real for all of us, all voters must be able to cast their ballots for their candidates of choice–freely, safely and equally. It is the responsibility of our elected officials at the federal, state and local levels to ensure that all Americans have the freedom to vote.

Georgia is a Communications Assistant at CLC.
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