Coalition Leadership

Greater Cleveland Voter Coalition Elects Leadership, Endorses Town Hall Meeting Tuesday, April 4 to Reauthorize National Voting Rights Act of 1965 - 03.27.06

The Steering Committee also voted to co-sponsor the upcoming march and Town Hall meeting on Tuesday, April 4 called by SCLC and People for the American Way to promote reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. All supporters of the Voter Coalition are urged to participate.

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed by Congress to eliminate certain voting practices that denied full voting rights to minorities in the United States. Some sections of the Act are permanent (such as Section 2, which bans racial discrimination nationwide, and Section 4 and 201, which ban literacy tests nationwide.) Other parts of the Act are not permanent, and will expire if not renewed by Congress in 2007. The most important of these are: Section 5, 203 and 6-9. Section 5 requires proof that proposed changes in voting laws and practices won’t have a negative effect on voting because of race or language. Section 203 ensures that voters with limited English language proficiency get the help they need to vote at the polls. Sections 6 – 9 allows the Attorney General to appoint federal election observers where there is evidence of attempts to intimidate minority voters at the polls.

According to the ACLU, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and many other groups, there is plenty of evidence that minority voters still need the protections of the sections of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that will expire unless renewed. Hence there is a national campaign going on to make sure Congress renews these provisions, with no retreat or changes that open the door to turning back the clock on voting rights.

The Greater Cleveland Voter Coalition supports these efforts and urges all of its members to participate in the events on Tuesday, April 4.

If you have a computer, there’s lots more information vailable. Simply Google "Reauthorization of Voting Rights Act of 1965" to learn more.

HOPE TO SEE YOU ON TUESDAY, APRIL 4 !