{"id":168,"date":"2021-02-05T07:30:41","date_gmt":"2021-02-05T07:30:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.commoncause.org\/connecticut\/press-releases\/more-than-80-good-government-groups-faith-leaders-civil-rights-organizations-labor-leaders-call-for-historic-voting-rights-agenda\/"},"modified":"2021-02-05T07:30:41","modified_gmt":"2021-02-05T07:30:41","slug":"more-than-80-good-government-groups-faith-leaders-civil-rights-organizations-labor-leaders-call-for-historic-voting-rights-agenda","status":"publish","type":"press","link":"https:\/\/www.commoncause.org\/connecticut\/press\/more-than-80-good-government-groups-faith-leaders-civil-rights-organizations-labor-leaders-call-for-historic-voting-rights-agenda\/","title":{"rendered":"MORE THAN 80 GOOD GOVERNMENT GROUPS, FAITH LEADERS, CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS & LABOR LEADERS CALL FOR HISTORIC VOTING RIGHTS AGENDA"},"template":"","class_list":["post-168","press","type-press","status-publish","hentry","press_type-press-release"],"acf":{"details":{"summary":"","featured_image":"","press_type":145,"authors":["{\"site_id\":\"1\",\"post_type\":\"person\",\"post_id\":7882}"],"related_issues":[106,107,109,490,492],"related_work":false,"location":9},"sidebar":{"helper_enable_sidebar":false,"helper_media_contact":{"heading":"Media Contact","manually_enter_person":false,"person":null,"name":"","role":"","phone":"","email":""},"helper_links_downloads":{"heading":"Links & Downloads","links":null}},"page_layout":[{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_wysiwyg","_acfe_flexible_toggle":null,"component_wysiwyg":{"content":"READ \/ DOWNLOAD 2021 VOTING RIGHTS LETTER TO LEGISLATORS<\/a> "}},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_wysiwyg","_acfe_flexible_toggle":null,"component_wysiwyg":{"content":"MORE THAN 80 GOOD GOVERNMENT GROUPS, FAITH LEADERS, CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS & LABOR LEADERS CALL FOR HISTORIC VOTING RIGHTS AGENDA\r\n\r\n\u2018Our Voice, Our Vote CT\u2019 Builds on Success of 2020 Election; Calls for Expanded Absentee Ballots, Early Voting, Automatic Voter Registration, Voting Rights for People on Parole & More\r\n\r\n(Hartford, CT)<\/strong>\u2014 Today, a broad coalition of good government groups, faith leaders, civil rights organizations and labor leaders from across Connecticut called on legislative leaders to support a historic and ambitious voting rights agenda in the 2021 legislative session, including expanded absentee ballot rights, early voting, Automatic Voter Registration (AVR), voting rights for people on parole and more. The call to action \u2013 spearheaded by Common Cause in Connecticut - has broad support from more than 80 groups ranging from the League of Women Voters of Connecticut, to Varick Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church, SEIU, and the ACLU of Connecticut.\r\n\r\nPolling released by Secretary of the State Denise Merrill last week demonstrated overwhelming bipartisan support for these measures, including 79% of voters in favor of allowing all voters to vote by absentee, 79% support for early voting, 77% support for AVR, and 66% support for restoring voting rights for people on parole.\r\n\r\nWhen the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Governor Lamont, Secretary of the State Denise Merrill, and the Connecticut legislature acted quickly to implement temporary voting reforms to ensure that Connecticut residents could safely exercise their right to vote. Those measures included expanded absentee ballot voting, mailing absentee ballot applications to registered voters, and the installation of secure drop-boxes. Despite these temporary reforms, Connecticut still lags behind states across the country on issues of voter access. That\u2019s why more than 80 groups, are calling on Connecticut leaders to prioritize a legislative agenda that includes:\r\n\r\n\u25cf A constitutional amendment to allow all registered voters to vote by absentee ballot without an \u201cexcuse\u201d\r\n\u25cf A constitutional amendment to allow early, in-person voting\r\n\u25cf Legislation to allow for absentee ballots to be counted early\r\n\u25cf Legislation to implement automatic voter registration (AVR) and update the online voter registration (OVR) system\r\n\u25cf Legislation to restore the right to vote for people on parole\r\n\r\n\u201cThe 2020 election was the most successful election in recent history - despite the pandemic - thanks to the swift actions taken by Connecticut leaders to temporarily expand voting rights. But if legislators don\u2019t act quickly to make these common-sense reforms permanent, Connecticut will soon take a step backwards at the expense of voters,\u201d said Cheri Quickmire, Executive Director of Common Cause in Connecticut. \u201cThe outpouring of support from this diverse coalition demonstrates the overwhelming demand for a more modern, accessible, and streamlined voting process. We strongly urge legislators to make these measures including expanded absentee ballot voting, early voting, AVR, and voting rights for individuals on parole an early priority this session. We don\u2019t have time to waste.\u201d\r\n

***The Letter Sent to Legislative Leaders is Below***<\/strong><\/p>\r\nFebruary 4, 2021\r\n\r\nDear Legislative Leaders:\r\n\r\nWhen COVID-19 hit, members of the legislature, Governor Lamont and Secretary Merrill jumped into action to safeguard voting rights and ensure that voting would be safe, secure and accessible throughout the pandemic. Thanks to that leadership and the temporary expansion of voter access that it allowed \u2013 including expanded absentee ballot voting, mailing absentee ballot applications to registered voters, and the installation of secure drop-boxes \u2013 Connecticut was able to run one of its smoothest elections in recent history. Voter participation reached near-record highs with nearly 80% of registered voters participating, lines at the polls were manageable, and results came in on time.\r\n\r\nThe truth is that despite these temporary reforms, Connecticut still lags behind our neighbors and states across the country when it comes to voter access. We urge all members of the Connecticut General Assembly to support Our Voice, Our Vote CT- an ambitious voting rights legislative agenda that must be prioritized as early as possible this session, including:\r\n\r\n1. A constitutional amendment to allow all registered voters to vote by absentee ballot without an \u201cexcuse\u201d\r\n2. A constitutional amendment to allow early, in-person voting\r\n3. Legislation to allow for absentee ballots to be counted early\r\n4. Legislation to implement automatic voter registration (AVR) and update the online voter registration (OVR) system\r\n5. Legislation to restore voting rights for individuals on parole\r\n\r\nThese steps are commonsense, bipartisan, long overdue, and will make Connecticut a national leader when it comes to voter access and voting rights. The 2020 election was the first time our state allowed all voters to vote by absentee ballot \u2013 and it was an incredible success, with close to 700,000 (more than one in three) voters choosing to vote absentee, and fewer than 1% of ballots rejected. Connecticut also did the right thing by passing legislation that allowed municipal officials the ability to pre-process absentee ballots early, which gave local registrars and election workers the time they needed to ensure that results would be tabulated quickly, accurately and transparently. As a result, Connecticut avoided the weeks of uncertainty that other states encountered, and upheld the strength of our democratic process. This session, we have the chance to make these temporary reforms permanent - we can\u2019t afford to let that opportunity pass us by.\r\n\r\nConnecticut must also take this historic opportunity to join the 44 other states across the country that allow in-person early voting. Early voting is a simple step that would make our voting process more accessible while helping to cut down on Election Day lines. For many working families, getting to the polls on Election Day is no easy task, forcing some to choose between family and work obligations, and their civic duty. With early voting, they would no longer be forced to make that choice.\r\n\r\nEnacting early voting, as well as expanding absentee ballot voting, would require a constitutional amendment, like the one proposed by Secretary Merrill. We agree with Secretary Merrill that voters shouldn\u2019t have to wait years for these reforms to become reality \u2013 the time for these reforms is now.\r\n\r\nIt\u2019s also time for Connecticut to pass automatic voter registration (AVR) into law. Implementing AVR will help hundreds of thousands of new voters automatically register. By reducing paperwork and streamlining the process of voter registration when residents interact with state agencies, AVR will allow Connecticut to modernize our elections and keep our voter rolls up to date, while ultimately saving taxpayer dollars at a time when lawmakers will be making difficult choices to address the budget deficit. We also urge the legislature to take this opportunity to support updating our online voter registration (OVR) system by allowing people to register to vote with a social security number in case they do not have a Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) ID. Doing so will help bring our registration system into the 21st century and make the process, faster, as well as more open and accessible to all eligible residents.\r\n\r\nRestoring voting rights for individuals on parole is an issue that strikes at the heart of social and racial justice. Stripping the right to vote from those on parole, is an act of disenfranchisement that has disproportionately impacted communities of color in Connecticut for far too long. By restoring the right to vote for people on parole, Connecticut can begin to remove barriers to voting for thousands of people, and help welcome back individuals looking to reengage in their communities. Every electorate in Connecticut should be able to exercise their right to vote and receive representation \u2013 including those who are reentering society.\r\n\r\nIn 2019, AVR passed in the House but was left in the Senate until the last day of session, ultimately never getting brought up for a final vote. We can\u2019t afford to let that happen again \u2013 Connecticut voters deserve action on voting rights and voter access this session. That\u2019s why we \u2013 a coalition of good government groups and other organizations who share this vision are writing today to strongly urge our legislative leaders to make Our Voice, Our Vote CT a priority from day one.\r\n\r\nSincerely,\r\n\r\nACLU of Connecticut\r\nAction Together CT\r\nAction Together CT - New Haven County\r\nAmerican Federation of Teachers (AFT) Connecticut\r\nAssociation of Retired Teachers of Connecticut (ARTC)\r\nBlack and Brown United in Action\r\nBLM 860\r\nBoard of the Middle Eastern and North African Law Students' Association, Yale Law School\r\nBridgeport Generation Now Votes\r\nBristol Branch NAACP\r\nCAIR Connecticut\r\nCenter for Latino Progress\r\nCheshire Democratic Town Committee\r\nClean Water Action\r\nCollaborative Center for Justice\r\nCommon Cause in Connecticut\r\nCommunications Workers of America Local 1298\r\nCongregation Mishkan Israel\r\nConnecticut AFL-CIO\r\nConnecticut Citizen Action Group\r\nConnecticut Employees Union Independent CEUI SEIU Local 511\r\nConnecticut Federation of Democratic Women\r\nConnecticut League of Conservation Voters\r\nConnecticut Working Families\r\nCONNPIRG Students\r\nCSEA SEIU Local 2001\r\nCT Alliance for Retired Americans\r\nCT Black Women\r\nEarly Childhood Collaborative of Southington\r\nFirst & Summerfield United Methodist Church\r\nGeneration Change CT\r\nGreater Hartford Progressive Democratic Women's Club\r\nGreater New Haven NAACP\r\nHamden Action Now\r\nHamden Democratic Town Committee\r\nHamden Progressive Action Network (HamPAN)\r\nHartford Foundation for Public Giving\r\nHartford Votes~Hartford Vota Coalition\r\nHeritage Village Democratic Club\r\nHispanic Federation Connecticut State Office\r\nKeep the Promise Coalition\r\nLeague of Women Voters of Connecticut\r\nLeague of Women Voters of the Bridgeport Area Inc.\r\nMake Voting Easy-CT\r\nMoral Monday CT\r\nNational Association of Social Workers, CT Chapter\r\nNational Organization for Women (NOW)\r\nNew Britain Racial Justice Coalition\r\nNew Haven Democratic Town Committee\r\nNew Haven Peoples Center\r\nNew Haven Rising\r\nNew Haven Votes Coalition\r\nNorwalk Women Who Vote\r\nOur Revolution Connecticut\r\nPAN34 (Progressive Action Network for the 34th district)\r\nPerSisters\r\nPoliticaCT\r\nPower Up Manchester\r\nProgressive Women of Greater Hartford\r\nReSisters\r\nRoad to Rights\r\nSEIU - CT State Council\r\nSEIU 32BJ\r\nSierra Club Connecticut\r\nSocial Action Council, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Danbury\r\nSouthbury Democratic Town Committee\r\nSouthern New England Conference United Church of Christ\r\nSouthington Democratic Town Committee\r\nState Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition (SEBAC)\r\nThe 4Cs SEIU 1973\r\nThe Arc Connecticut\r\nThe Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport\r\nUAW Region 9A\r\nUniversal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut\r\nUniversity of Connecticut AAUP\r\nUniversity of Connecticut School of Social Work\r\nUrban Concepts, Inc.\r\nUU the Vote CT\r\nVarick Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church\r\nVoter Choice Connecticut\r\nWallingford Democratic Town Committee\r\nWaterbury Muslims\r\nWest Hartford Womens Huddle (WEHA)\r\nWestern Connecticut Action Network\r\nWestern Connecticut Area Labor Federation\r\nWoodbury Democratic Town Committee\r\nYWCA Greenwich\r\nYWCA New Britain"}}]},"yoast_head":"\nMORE THAN 80 GOOD GOVERNMENT GROUPS, FAITH LEADERS, CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS & LABOR LEADERS CALL FOR HISTORIC VOTING RIGHTS AGENDA - Common Cause Connecticut<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.commoncause.org\/connecticut\/press-releases\/more-than-80-good-government-groups-faith-leaders-civil-rights-organizations-labor-leaders-call-for-historic-voting-rights-agenda\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"MORE THAN 80 GOOD GOVERNMENT GROUPS, FAITH LEADERS, CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS & LABOR LEADERS CALL FOR HISTORIC VOTING RIGHTS AGENDA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.commoncause.org\/connecticut\/press\/more-than-80-good-government-groups-faith-leaders-civil-rights-organizations-labor-leaders-call-for-historic-voting-rights-agenda\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Common Cause Connecticut\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.commoncause.org\/connecticut\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/common-cause-share-image.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"630\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.commoncause.org\/connecticut\/press-releases\/more-than-80-good-government-groups-faith-leaders-civil-rights-organizations-labor-leaders-call-for-historic-voting-rights-agenda\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.commoncause.org\/connecticut\/press-releases\/more-than-80-good-government-groups-faith-leaders-civil-rights-organizations-labor-leaders-call-for-historic-voting-rights-agenda\/\",\"name\":\"MORE THAN 80 GOOD GOVERNMENT GROUPS, FAITH LEADERS, CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS & LABOR LEADERS CALL FOR HISTORIC VOTING RIGHTS AGENDA - 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