To: The Delaware State Senate
We're Halfway There. Tell Delaware's Senate to Expand Voting Rights
Our government must be in the business of expanding, not limiting voting rights. We believe that for all voices to be heard, no barrier must exist between people and the polls. Dear Senators, please strengthen our democracy by passing Same Day Registration for ALL elections, general and primary, in Delaware.
Why is this important?
America's elections are broken. Not only do people with the most money fund our system, but also the election process itself systematically raises barriers to participation. People of color, young people, and college students are less likely to be registered and therefore less likely to vote. That’s true here in Delaware just as it is in Georgia, Ohio, and North Carolina where burdensome ideological-driven restrictions are being implemented to prevent more people from voting. And the result is that our democratic system is more accountable to people with money than it is to the rest of us.
However, we are fighting back and we are winning. Since last year, I’ve been working with a diverse and powerful coalition of community organizations, faith leaders, civil rights organizations, labor, and advocates in pushing for House Bill 105, Same Day Voter Registration (SDR) in Delaware. Same Day Registration allows individuals to register to vote and cast their ballot on the same day. Same Day Registration is one the most effective ways to increase participation in our democracy. Our coalition has organized community leaders and raised our voice in support of Same Day Registration. And we passed the first hurdle, getting the bill to pass the Delaware House.
This was no easy task, despite the obvious democratic benefits that Same Day Registration could bring to Delaware, a few self-interested politicians were pushing to block Same Day Voter Registration. Now, that we've won in the House we're hearing many of the conservative talking points — that voting is a privilege that should be restricted to the few — rather than a right that we should be fighting to protect. I believe strongly in the right to vote and that is why I'm continuing the fight with my coalition partners to expand voting rights and strengthen our democracy in Delaware.
However, we are fighting back and we are winning. Since last year, I’ve been working with a diverse and powerful coalition of community organizations, faith leaders, civil rights organizations, labor, and advocates in pushing for House Bill 105, Same Day Voter Registration (SDR) in Delaware. Same Day Registration allows individuals to register to vote and cast their ballot on the same day. Same Day Registration is one the most effective ways to increase participation in our democracy. Our coalition has organized community leaders and raised our voice in support of Same Day Registration. And we passed the first hurdle, getting the bill to pass the Delaware House.
This was no easy task, despite the obvious democratic benefits that Same Day Registration could bring to Delaware, a few self-interested politicians were pushing to block Same Day Voter Registration. Now, that we've won in the House we're hearing many of the conservative talking points — that voting is a privilege that should be restricted to the few — rather than a right that we should be fighting to protect. I believe strongly in the right to vote and that is why I'm continuing the fight with my coalition partners to expand voting rights and strengthen our democracy in Delaware.