Julia Tanner – League of Women Voters of Virginia

Commending Governor Northam on Voter Protection Proposals

August 19, 2020 Julia Tanner

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 18, 2020
Richmond, VA

EMPOWERING VOTERS. DEFENDING DEMOCRACY.

Today, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam made recommendations aimed at supporting the health and safety of voters and poll workers during the pandemic.

“We commend the Governor on his elections proposals and urge the General Assembly to adopt them,” said Deb Wake, president of League of Women Voters of Virginia. “Voters should not need to choose between their health and their right to vote, a cornerstone of our democracy. Secure and flexible access to voting will preserve public health and safety.”

The governor’s plan to permit voters to deposit their absentee ballots in secure drop boxes will preserve voter health. More than 30 states now permit voters to deposit their ballots in strong, tamperproof drop boxes.

The League also supports the governor’s proposal for prepaid return postage on absentee ballots, and budget provisions that will enable absentee voters to correct errors on their ballots. These recommendations will help ensure that all voters can make their voices heard at the polls.

The League of Women Voters of Virginia strongly supports these important measures for access to voting and urges the General Assembly to adopt them.

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The League of Women Voters was founded in 1920 when U.S. women won the right to vote. We work to encourage informed and active participation in government and to influence public policy through education and advocacy. The League is dedicated to empowering voters and defending democracy. We are proud to be nonpartisan, neither supporting nor opposing candidates or political parties at any level of government, always working on vital issues of concern to members and the public.

For more information, visit the League of Women Voters of Virginia at lwv-va.org and on social media @lwvva and @leagueofwomenvoters.

Action Alert: Ask your US Senator to support VRAA

June 25, 2020 Julia Tanner

This year, the League of Women Voters marks its 100th anniversary and 100 years since passage of the 19th Amendment. Today, summon this legacy of success and contact your legislators to protect voting rights.

Call to Action! The League of Women Voters of the United States has asked us all to take part in a “Virtual Lobby Day” today, Thursday, June 25, in support of the Voting Rights Advancement Act (VRAA).

The Voting Rights Act (VRA) of 1965 holds states to follow specific requirements when conducting elections for federal offices. The original Act had a critical tool that requires states with a history of suppressing the vote of racial, ethnic, or language minorities to “pre-clear” changes in key voting laws and practices with the US Department of Justice or the US District Court for the District of Columbia.

In 2013, the Supreme Court stripped away these key protections that had reduced discrimination, particularly against Black voters. The Shelby v. Holder decision suspended pre-clearance. States rapidly started purging qualified voters, adopting restrictive voter ID laws, closing polling places, enacting onerous requirements for voting, and gerrymandering with abandon.

It’s past time for Congress to update and restore the Voting Rights Act, including the critical pre-clearance requirement. Ask your Senators to pass S.561, the Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019.

Status: the VRAA passed the House of Representatives in December. Now is the Senate’s turn.

WHAT ACTIONS CAN I TAKE ON JUNE 25?

1. Email your Senators using our Action Alert!

2. Call your Senators and ask them to support and pass the Voting Rights Advancement Act

3. Tweet at your Senators (find sample posts & graphics here)

4. Participate in our Twitter Storm between 2-3pm ET (find sample posts & graphics here)

You can find information and Talking Points in the US League’s toolkit here.

After contacting your legislator, report your advocacy here.

League policy is that members do not speak for the League.

“Only the President or her designee is authorized to speak for the League. However, we encourage all members to contact their public officials as individuals, whether or not they agree with a League position.”

Contact Virginia’s U.S. Senators

Mark Warner
Washington, DC office phone: (202) 224-2023
Virginia office phones and addresses: here
Email: use this form on the Senator’s website

Tim Kaine
Washington, DC office phone: (202) 224-4024
Virginia office phones and addresses: kaine.senate.gov
Email: use this form kaine.senate.gov/contact