Press Room

Latest Press Release

Other Resources

National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) Celebrates 40 Years of Voting Rights Act, Calls for Continued Protection of Voting Access for All For Immediate Release   August 6, 2005 Contact: Kaaryn Sanon, Communications Manager 202.408.9514 x122 press@ndrn.org WASHINGTON – On August 6, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the historic Voting Rights Act (VRA), one of the most significant civil rights statutes ever enacted. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 provided extensive protections by prohibiting any voting practice – such as intimidation, voter harassment, poll taxes, literacy tests, and language barriers – that for decades had served to deny millions the right to vote. Urging swift enactment of voting rights legislation, Johnson went before a special, televised joint session of Congress, saying, “Rarely are we met with a challenge to the values and the purposes and the meaning of our beloved nation. The issue of equal rights is such an issue… The command of the Constitution is plain. It is wrong – deadly wrong – to deny any of your fellow Americans the right to vote in this country.” Yet 40 years later, far too many Americans still face barriers to exercising a private and independent vote. It was not until 1982 that the VRA was expanded to create a provision for voters with disabilities, entitling them to receive voting assistance from any person they choose – with the exception of an employer or union agent. It took another 20 years for the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) to mandate that every polling place have an accessible voting machine in place by January 1, 2006. “The Voting Rights Act highlighted the need for federal guarantees for all citizens to participate fully in our democracy and it set the stage for future statutory protections that ensure election access to individuals with disabilities,” said Christina Galindo-Walsh, Senior Staff Attorney for the National Disability Rights Network. “As we work toward fulfilling the promise of voting access to all, we must make certain the foundation of equal access to the ballot is protected.” Key provisions of the VRA – specifically the federal monitor and observer and the bilingual voting material provisions – are set to expire in 2007. These provisions, allow for crucial federal oversight of state and local voting functions for jurisdictions that have a significant documented history of voting discrimination against minority populations. “It is essential that the Voting Rights Act is not only reauthorized but strengthened so we can continue to work toward fulfilling the promise that all citizens have a voice in our democracy,” said Galindo-Walsh. For more on NDRN’s work on voting issues, go to www.ndrn.org/issues/voting/ # # # The National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) is the nonprofit membership organization for the federally mandated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) Systems and the Client Assistance Programs (CAP) for individuals with disabilities.   Through training and technical assistance, legal support, and legislative advocacy, NDRN works to create a society in which people with disabilities are afforded equality of opportunity and are able to fully participate by exercising choice and self-determination.

Contact Us: 202-408-9514 ext.122 press@ndrn.org or in your state: Choose your State Alabama Alaska American Samoa Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Guam Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Native American Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Northern Marianas Islands Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Puerto Rico Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virgin Islands Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Press Kit: NDRN At-a-Glance [PDF] NDRN History [PDF] [HTML] Executive Profile [PDF] [HTML] P&A Programs [PDF] Guidelines for Reporting and Writing about People with Disabilities (opens another window): Reflecting input from over 100 national disability organizations, the Guidelines explain preferred terminology and offer suggestions for appropriate ways to describe people with disabilities. Although opinions may differ on some terms, the Guidelines represent the current consensus among disability organizations. Headlines: Disability Rights in the news