FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, October 20, 2021
Contact: [email protected]
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 a vote in the Senate where the Freedom to Vote Act was blocked from advancing.
“Today, Senate Republicans deliberately blocked the passage of voting rights legislation as a tactic to not only discourage Americans from voting but also enable those eager to take away our constitutional rights. The votes against the Freedom to Vote Act not only represent the monopolization of political power but threaten the security of our democracy and free and fair elections,” said Young.
“At When We All Vote, we believe power belongs in the hands of the people, and today’s vote was a callous, desperate attempt for lawmakers to take that power away. That’s why we mobilized our community to take more than 15,000 actions in support of federal voting right legislation that expands access to the ballot box and we will continue to do so. Regardless of today’s vote, we are not defeated. This moment is only a delay in the fight to protect American voters. Eliminating or instituting meaningful reform to the filibuster is long overdue and necessary for progress.”
“Our commitment to this fight remains steadfast and we will stop at nothing to protect the freedom to vote for every American, especially those who have been historically left out of the political process.”
The Freedom to Vote Act would make it easier to vote early, expand the right to vote by mail and protect Americans from voter suppression. When We All Vote has consistently mobilized its community of grassroots volunteers, corporate leaders and celebrity ambassadors in support of 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 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. 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. Seven 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, Made to Save and We The Action. Learn more here.