FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, September 14, 2021
Contact: [email protected]
(Washington, D.C.): Today, Stephanie L. Young, Executive Director of When We All Vote, a leading voting organization committed to increasing participation in every election, released a statement following the introduction of the Freedom to Vote Act, a revised version of the For the People Act.
“Right now, passing federal voting rights legislation is the single most important thing we can do to protect access to the ballot box. Our freedom to vote is under attack and democracy is at stake as state lawmakers have introduced more than 500 voter suppression bills to make it harder to get registered and cast our ballots. The Freedom to Vote Act will allow for same day voter registration, protect and expand access to voting by mail, restore voting rights to formerly incarcerated people, establish automatic voter registration and prevent partisan gerrymandering,” said Young.
“But let’s be clear, the Freedom to Vote Act is just one step we need to take to ensure every American can make their voices heard in our elections, especially Black, Brown and young voters, and voters with disabilities, who are disproportionately impacted by voter suppression laws. The Senate must also pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to restore protections to our elections and limit states’ ability to pass voter suppression laws. In 2021, When We All Vote has mobilized our community to take more than 14,000 actions in support of federal voting right legislation and we will continue to push lawmakers to act until these protections are signed into law.”
When We All Vote has consistently mobilized its community of grassroots volunteers, corporate leaders and celebrity ambassadors in support of federal voting rights legislation. Last month, When We All Vote and March On released an updated letter signed by more than 60 celebrities and ambassadors including Demi Lovato, Rosario Dawson and Hailey Bieber calling on Congress to pass federal voting rights legislation. Previously, When We All Vote Co-Chair Michelle Obama teamed up with Stacey Abrams to call on Americans to join the fight for voting rights. When We All Vote has also partnered with Vote.org, the Declaration for American Democracy Coalition (DFAD) and more than 90 of the country’s leading corporations in calling on the Senate to pass the For the People Act.
Individuals can learn more and get involved in When We All Vote’s advocacy efforts at whenweallvote.org/advocacy.
ABOUT When We All Vote:
When We All Vote is a leading national, nonpartisan initiative is on a mission to change the culture around voting and to increase participation in each and every election by helping to close the race and age gap. Created by Michelle Obama, When We All Vote brings together individuals, institutions, brands, and organizations to register new voters across the country and advance civic education for the entire family and voters of every age to build an informed and engaged electorate for today and generations to come. We empower our supporters and volunteers to take action through voting, advocating for their rights, and holding their elected officials accountable.
In 2020, When We All Vote ran a robust, multifaceted campaign and reached more than 100 million people to educate them about the voting process and get them registered and ready to vote. The initiative also led in voter education, registration, and volunteer engagement and as a result, 512,000 people started or completed the voter registration process, and nearly 500 media, corporate, and nonprofit partners joined its efforts.
Michelle Obama launched When We All Vote in 2018 and is joined by fellow Co-Chairs Tom Hanks, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Janelle Monáe, Chris Paul, Faith Hill, Selena Gomez, Liza Koshy, Megan Rapinoe, Shonda Rhimes, Tracee Ellis Ross, Kerry Washington, and Rita Wilson.
When We All Vote is a key initiative within Civic Nation, a 501(c)(3) organization, and works with Civic Nation Action, a 501(c)(4). These organizations are homes for changemakers who inspire, educate, and activate people around the issues that will define this generation.
ABOUT Civic Nation:
Civic Nation is a nonpartisan, nonprofit home for changemakers who inspire, educate, and activate people around the issues that will define this generation. Civic Nation empowers and educates individuals, companies, institutions and organizations to drive culture, systems and policy change, working towards a more inclusive and equitable America. Six initiatives are a part of the Civic Nation family: When We All Vote, United State of Women, ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, End Rape On Campus, It’s On Us and Made to Save.