The skanner., May 23, 2012, Page 6, Image 6

Church
Groups Mobilizing Nationwide to Rebuff Assault on Voters’ Rights
Requiring a photo ID is not copy of their birth certificate online, in the
The NAACP recently
as race-neutral as many peo- mail or in person. But because processing a
announced its “This is My
ple believe. According to the birth certificate request can take as long as
Vote”
campaign
and
Brennan Center, 25 percent seven months, as was a case cited by the
accompanying Web site at
WASHINGTON (NNPA) – As many as 5 Clark-Atlanta University in
of African American voters Colorado Collaborative ID Project, it is
million people could be denied the right to Georgia to combat the
do not have a valid govern- imperative that the process is initiated early.
vote in the November presidential election attack on voting. The
Melanie Campbell urges voters to verify
ment-issued photo ID,
because of a series of regressive actions, nation’s oldest civil rights
compared with 8 percent of that their voter registration record and
including insisting on photo identification group is wedding 21st cen-
organize around social media.
Whites.
at the polls, reducing time allotted for early tury technology tools with
The Lawyers Committee report also rec-
“One in four African
voting and eliminating Sunday voter regis- old-fashioned grassroots
Americans does not have a ommended matching student enrollment
tration drives popular among Black organizing. People can
driver’s license or any of the lists with voter rolls and then reaching out
churches.
restrictive IDs,” Tanya Clay to students with limited or no past voter par-
obtain registration forms at
Melanie Campbell
In this year alone, according to the Bren- www.thisismyvote.org. or
House, public policy director ticipation. It also suggested contacting high
nan Center at the New York University text the word “VOTE” to 62227 (letters that for the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights school seniors who may turn 18 before the
School of Law, a non-partisan public policy spell NAACP), to stay abreast of the differ- Under Law, said during a panel discussion November election.
and law institute, more than 34 states have ent rules and laws for voting in their state. at last month’s National Action Network
Organizations can also arrange free or
introduced new restrictions on voting. At Voters can also call 1-866-MYVOTE1.
Conference, held in Washington, D.C. reduced transit to DMV offices that can be
least 12 states have introduced bills that
far away. For example, some voters
The campaign has more than
would require proof of citizenship, such as 500,000 active members and “e-
in Texas have to travel up to 176
a birth certificate, to register or vote. At activists”
miles roundtrip to get to an office to
in
the
50-state
least 13 states have introduced legislation to nonpartisan campaign, according
obtain identification, according to
terminate Election Day and same-day voter to
the report.
Marvin
Randolph,
the
registration and two states – Florida and NAACP’s senior vice president for
City officials can follow the lead of
Iowa – have reversed prior executive orders campaigns.
the Jackson Transit Authority in Ten-
— Melanie Campbell, president and chief nessee, which has offered free bus
making it easier for ex-felons to vote.
“I think technology is critical,”
In addition to complaining about meas- he explained. “Clearly, the way
executive officer of the National Coalition rides to the Department of Motor
ures they say are aimed at suppressing the that people communicate has fun-
on Black Civic Participation Vehicles to people needing to get a
Black vote, many civil rights organizations damentally changed. We have to
voter ID. The hourly rides will be
and community groups have been mobiliz- communicate with people in the
available June 25-29, July 2-3 and 5-
ing to remove potential roadblocks.
way that they spend their time. If they are “Your grandmother living in a nursing 6, Aug 24 and August 27-31. Organizations
“This is one of the most egregious elec- tethered to their smart phones or to their home may not have a driver’s license, may may be able to make similar arrangements
tions we’ve had since Barack and since computers, that’s where we need to be.”
not have a utility bill, may not have a pass- in their local communities.
Florida in 2000,” said Melanie Campbell,
In many Black communities, the church
The Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights port.”
president and chief executive officer of the Under Law is working to provide much-
She also explained, “In Texas, you have a remains a rallying point for political
National Coalition on Black Civic Partici- needed guidance to voters who will be legislature that passed laws that say you can empowerment.
pation.
“Historically if the church never got
required to use your gun ID to register to vote, but you
“There is a
involved, there would be no Voting Rights
produce a can’t use your student ID.”
lot of work
Voters are required to not only present a Act of 1964. There would be no Brown vs.
photo ID. Its
to be done
r e p o r t , driver’s license or state-issued ID, but they Board of Education,” Rev. Otis T. Moss III,
with
a
titled, “Got can also be required to present proof of res- pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in
shortage of
ID? Helping idence in Kansas, Wisconsin, Alabama, Chicago. “We’re not talking about specific
funding, but
Americans South Carolina, Texas, Tennessee, Pennsyl- candidates. I think that anyone who is of
we’re out
voting age, you need to be registered.”
Get Voter vania, Mississippi, Georgia and Indiana.
here work-
Fortunately, voters can obtain a certified
Identifica-
ing hard to
— Rev. Otis T. Moss III, pastor of Trinity United t i o n , ”
do the work.
highlights
Church of Christ in Chicago s u c c e s s f u l
W e ’ r e
working
v o t e r
closer in coalition to maximize results.”
empowerment efforts in Wisconsin, Ten-
Campbell rattled off a list of organizations nessee and Colorado
working as a coalition, including the
The report suggests crosschecking
NAACP, the National Urban League, the Department of Motor Vehicles records
Advancement Project, the League of Young against current voter registration rolls to
Voters, the Hip Hop Caucus, People for the notify individuals about the new voter ID
American Way and the National Council of requirements early enough to give them an
Negro Women.
opportunity to obtain new forms of identifi-
“We’re all working hard to cross-pollinate cation.
and partner as much as possible. We don’t
“The Wisconsin Voices made an open
want to talk on Nov. 6, after the election, records request with the DMV in Milwau-
about what we should have done,” she said. kee and got access to 2.1 million records of
“The key is early information, early action. people with driver’s licenses that was cross-
Election Protection is starting their 1-866- referenced with VAN, a voter contact and
OUR-VOTE hotline earlier. You can call management system,” according to the
now if you’re having issues, you can get a report. “The group matched 1.3 million
lawyer now. It’s better than waiting until records to help identify people who might
October.”
need government-issued photo IDs.”
By Akeya Dickson
Washington Correspondent NNPA
News Service
‘We don’t want to talk on Nov. 6,
after the election, about what
we should have done’
‘Historically if the church never
got involved, there would be no
Voting Rights Act of 1964. There
would be no Brown vs. Board of
Education’
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Page 6 The Portland Skanner May 23, 2012