VOTING ACTIVISM OPPORTUNITIES

This is a group of classmates who have focused on a multi-pronged approach, including projects around protecting voter rights, gerrymandering, and, eventually, civics education. Because of ClassACT’s 501(c)(3) non-profit status, we have only listed groups that are non-partisan, though some organizations may be 501(c)(4) entities to which donations are not tax-deductible.

Leads: Marilyn Go, Jim Harbison, Ryan O’Connell

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VOTING: OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES ARTICLES

Members of the Justice & Civic Engagement Committee regularly contribute and edit articles on related to timely issues related on voting protection in various states to the ClassACT HR73 Newsletters. Links to recent articles below.

Leads: Marilyn Go, Jim Harbison, Ryan O'Connell, Jacki Swearingen

FIND FULL LIST OF ARTICLES HERE.

CLASSACT FORUM

VOTER SUPPRESSION: A CANCER ON OUR BODY POLITIC

The elimination of many polling places. The cancellation of early voting. The intimidation at the polls of voters and election workers. These are just a few of the signs of voter suppression that have sprouted in recent years as some members of the electorate attempt to attain or to hold on to power by preventing those they regard as potential opponents from voting.

ClassACT HR73 hosted the forum “Voter Suppression: A Cancer in Our Body Politic” on September 12th, 2022. The forum brought together journalists, activists and experts concerned with election integrity to discuss how repressing voting threatens our democracy. Class of 1973’s own E.J. Dionne, the renowned Washington Post columnist, moderated a panel that included  Congressman Joaquin Castro HLS '00, the Congressman for the 20th District of Texas, Cecile Scoon ’81, President of the League of Women Voters of Florida, Michael Waldman, President of the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law School, and Samuel Spital '00, HLS '04, the Director of Litigation at the NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc.

GERRYMANDERING: OUR DEMOCRACY AT RISK

ClassACT HR73 is pleased to present its primer on gerrymandering: Gerrymandering: Our Democracy at Risk.” Written by James P. Harbison and J. Ryan O’Connell with editing by Sallie Gouverneur, the primer is a product of ClassACT HR73’s Justice & Civic Engagement Initiative. Through this initiative, ClassACT has already hosted forums addressing issues such as voter suppression, racism and social justice, and racism in the criminal justice system.

Gerrymandering is one of the gravest, most insidious threats to our democracy, and the potential for abuse is soaring. When politicians draw voting maps to favor their party’s candidates over their opponents, that undermines the power of elections in our system of government…and citizens’ faith in our republic. A legislature should be a mirror image of its voters, so lawmakers reflect their constituents’ views, but gerrymandering prevents that.

Gerrymandering makes campaigns less competitive. With safe seats, incumbents can cater to their party’s members and ignore voters from the other party. Lawmakers are less inclined to compromise, which can lead to gridlock.

As a result of the 2020 census, officials in all 50 states have drawn up the voting maps that will govern elections for the next 10 years. With cheap, powerful computer programs, it’s easy for politicians to slice and dice voting districts to their hearts’ content…unless concerned citizens like you get involved and stop them.

“Gerrymandering: Our Democracy at Risk” will show you how to stop lawmakers from gaming the map-drawing process. We’ve written this primer for all Americans, regardless of political affiliation, who want elections to be fair and their votes to count. Politicians from both major parties have succumbed to the temptations of gerrymandering.

GERRYMANDERING: OUR DEMOCRACY AT RISK PRIMER

The primer explains:

• What techniques politicians use to draw maps unfairly
• Which states are the most highly gerrymandered
• What are the best solutions for ensuring fair elections
• How you can help to fight gerrymandering

We urge you to share this primer with your friends, communities and educational institutions. If you have questions about the primer or how to share it with others, please contact Ryan O’Connell.

SUMMARY OF THE GERRYMANDERING PRIMER

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