Tag: voter discrimination

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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO DEFEND ASIAN AMERICAN VOTING RIGHTS

DC • CA • FL • GA • LA • MA • MD • MI • NJ • NM • NV • NY • PA • TX • VA

2018 Asian American Exit Poll and Poll Monitoring

Tuesday, November 6, 2018

In past elections, Asian Americans have faced a series of barriers in exercising their right to vote, including segregated “Asian” voting lines.  When the news media reported on election results, Asian Americans were overlooked.  In response, the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) has conducted a non-partisan survey of Asian American voters to document Asian American voting patterns and document instances of anti-Asian voter disenfranchisement. AALDEF has monitored the elections for compliance with the federal Voting Rights Act, which mandates bilingual ballots and forbids anti-Asian voter discrimination.

We need your help.  In 2016, our volunteers surveyed 13,846 Asian American and Arab voters in 11 Asian languages at 55 cities about their voting encounters. Volunteers work in three hour shifts. There will be a one-hour training session for all volunteers in October (90 minutes for CLE credits).  All volunteers must be non-partisan during the time that they help.  Complete the form at Volunteer Sign-Up Form.  Thank you!

For more information, contact: AALDEF Democracy Program Director Jerry Vattamala or Voting Rights Organizer Fiona Zhao at 800-966-5946 or [email protected].

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From NAPABA: Sign the petition urging Congress to pass the Voting Rights Amendment Act!

Over a year ago, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a critical element of the Voting Rights Act, the coverage formula. The coverage formula required jurisdictions with histories and ongoing practices of discrimination in voting practices and laws to “preclear” their voting changes with the U.S. Department of Justice or the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Voting changes were analyzed to see if they were influenced by a discriminatory purpose or would harm minority voters in their jurisdictions.

The Voting Rights Amendment Act (VRAA) will modernize the coverage formula of the Voting Rights Act to tie it to recent patterns of voter discrimination. Congress needs to pass this law to ensure that all voters, including members of the Asian Pacific American community, are able to exercise their fundamental right to vote.  Click here to read NAPABA’s Statement Opposing Voter Suppression Efforts.

Since the VRAA (HR 3899/S 1945) was introduced this January, the Senate has held one hearing on the bill, and the House has failed to act. We need your help! Tell your members of Congress to pass the Voting Rights Amendment act now by clicking here to sign this petition.

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AALDEF Press Release on SCOTUS Decision in Shelby

AALDEF Press Release on SCOTUS Decision in Shelby

The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) and Asian Americans Advancing Justice-AAJC (Advancing Justice-AAJC) (formerly known as Asian American Justice Center) criticize the decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down Section 4, the coverage mechanism of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA), in Shelby County, Alabama v. Holder.  Earlier this year, AALDEF and Advancing Justice-AAJC filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of 28 Asian American groups to uphold Section 5, which was reauthorized by Congress in 2006 and is intended to stop voter discrimination before it occurs. 

Please click on the link in the title to read the full press release.