Voting rights are at a crossroads. America’s electoral system is being undermined by foreign interference and threatened by President Donald Trump’s sham commission, led by Vice President Mike Pence and Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, investigating American voters. The commission, which will meet for its first in-person meeting on July 19, includes a who’s who of voter suppressors that seek to block eligible Americans from registering to vote and improperly remove them from the voter rolls, preventing them from voting. Those most affected by these voter suppression measures are communities of color and other historically underrepresented groups, including young people. At the same time, pro-voter solutions such as automatic voter registration (AVR) can securely maintain the voter rolls and transform voter registration from a barrier to a gateway to voter participation.
The Center for American Progress invites you to join a discussion with secretaries of state and voting rights advocates on attacks and advances in voter registration. The integrity of our elections depends on every eligible American having their voice heard. AVR securely and accurately maintains voter registration databases while increasing electoral participation for eligible Americans—particularly Millennials. Millennials are America’s largest and most diverse generation, and they need to have a voice in government. Unfortunately, many young Americans are unable to vote as a result of unnecessary barriers to voter registration. AVR removes barriers to youth voter participation and helps ensure that Millennials have a say in the issues that impact their lives.
Introductory remarks:
Neera Tanden, president and CEO, Center for American Progress
In conversation with:
Alex Padilla, Secretary of State, California
Nellie Gorbea, Secretary of State, Rhode Island
Featured panelists:
Sarah Audelo, executive director, Alliance for Youth Action
Maggie Thompson, executive director, Generation Progress
Stevie Valles, executive director, Chicago Votes
Moderator:
Liz Kennedy, director of Democracy and Government Reform, Center for American Progress
