Civil and Human Rights Coalition Responds to Release of State-Based Reforms to Election Administration

WASHINGTON—Wade Henderson, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, released the statement below following the release of recommendations for the improvement of the administration of elections in this country by the Presidential Commission on Election Administration:

“These recommendations show that, when guided by best practices, states can make incredible strides to ensure that voters have reliable access to the polls – all they need to do is make it a priority.

Voters should be able to cast their ballots in an efficient, orderly, and reliable fashion. Today’s report offers workable solutions to the many states that are behind in updating voter registration and have struggled with hours-long lines at polling places.

For good reason, this state-focused report did not reference the protection of constitutional rights that only Congress can provide. It is vital that states administer their elections fairly and openly, but only Congress can ensure the right to vote for Americans nationwide by passing the bipartisan Voting Rights Amendment Act. 

We urge states across the country to implement these common sense reforms. We also reiterate our call to Congress to act this year to protect voters from discrimination in a common sense, bipartisan way through passage of the Voting Rights Amendment Act.”

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its 200-plus member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.