Contact: Jana Morgan – Director, Declaration for American Democracy
Phone: (703) 795-8542
E-Mail: jana@dfadcoalition.org
Today, the Declaration for American Democracy joined the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, and over 150 other organizations, to demand that Congress allocate at least $4 billion in funding for election protection this year, and mandate critical reforms to ensure everyone in America has equal access to the ballot box.
“The $400 million appropriated for state election support in the March 27 COVID-19 package was a start, but as the chaos in the Wisconsin primary revealed, the initial funding is woefully insufficient to cover the costs needed for states to hold safe and secure elections around the country,” said Jana Morgan, director of the Declaration for American Democracy. “To uphold everyone’s right to vote in America this year, Congress must provide states with the funding they need in the next COVID-19 legislative package, as well as mandate much needed reforms.”
The letter also calls on Congress to pass a number of critical reforms to ensure that Americans do not have to choose between their health and their vote at the polls this year. These reforms include:
- Ensuring that states take steps to protect the health and safety of poll workers and voters.
- Expanding voter registration options such as online registration and same day registration.
- Requiring states to expand early voting to prevent lines and crowded polling places where people could be exposed to the virus.
- Enacting no-excuse vote-by-mail as an option for every voter in America.
“By instituting common-sense, pro-voter policies, people of all ages in every state will be able to vote without fear for their health,” continued Morgan. “Congress has the power to give our states the resources they need to quickly put a plan in place so no one in America will be forced to choose between their safety and their vote.”
On April 14th, the Declaration for American Democracy coalition will launch a national call-in effort to encourage citizens to reach out to their Senators and ask them to Protect Our Vote. Learn more here.
