Groups claim legislation would impose severe burdens on Virginians ability to register and to cast vote
Washington, D.C. – The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and the Virginia Civic Engagement Table recently sent a letter to Virginia Governor Ralph Northam calling on him to veto Senate Bill 1038, a bill that would make voter registration more difficult and could potentially result in the purging of thousands of eligible Virginia voters from the voter rolls. To accompany the letter, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law also issued the following statement:
“Legislation like SB 1038 is a prime example of a modern-day voter suppression policy that not only makes voter registration more difficult, but will potentially purge large numbers of Virginia’s eligible voters from the voter rolls and disproportionately and negatively impact the Commonwealth’s minority citizens,” said John Greenbaum Chief Counsel and Senior Deputy Directory at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.
“Requiring that voter registration data exactly match Social Security Administration and other government database information in order for Virginians to fully register to vote and remain on the voter rolls is a patently flawed process which presents an unnecessary roadblock to the ballot box that many of Virginia’s voting-eligible citizens will be unable to clear through no fault of their own. This bill is very similar to Georgia’s notorious ’exact match’ law which has been shown to disproportionately and negatively delay and prevent voters of color from completing the voter registration process in Georgia. Governor Northam should lead Virginia forward by vetoing this legislation and working with the legislature to protect all Virginians’ right to vote.”
Read full letter here.
About the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, was formed in 1963 at the request of President John F. Kennedy to involve the private bar in providing legal services to address racial discrimination. Now in its 56th year, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law is continuing its quest to “Move America Toward Justice.” The principal mission of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law is to secure, through the rule of law, equal justice for all, particularly in the areas of criminal justice, fair housing and community development, economic justice, educational opportunities, and voting rights.
Full Letter: Here
Contact
Derrick Robinson, Lawyers’ Committee, DRobinson@LawyersCommittee.org, 202-662-8317
Reynolds Graves, Lawyers’ Committee, RGraves@LawyersCommittee.org, 202-622-8375
