Project VOTE A Citizen Participation Campaign

Project VOTE! A Citizen Participation Campaign

Urban League Guild of Hampton Roads • The members of the Urban League Guild of Hampton Roads are volunteers who donate their time to deliver services that extend public understanding and support of the League and its programs. • The principal concerns of the Guild are in areas of community service, leadership development, advocacy and fundraising. • The Guild’s Project VOTE! campaign encourages individuals to become engaged in the legislative process, not just during election time, but for a lifetime.

At Issue: VOTER Turnout • US voter turnout in DECLINE • More than 70% of eligible voters turned out for 1902 presidential election • Less than 40% of eligible voters turned out for non-presidential races first decade 21 st Century

Why People Don’t VOTE! • No interest in politics or voting • Don’t believe vote counts • No transportation to the poll • Can’t take time off from work or school • Bad weather

More Reasons Why People Don’t VOTE! • Long lines at polls • Don’t trust politicians • Don’t like candidates • Don’t have time to follow issues • Happy with the way things are

Why Bother to VOTE! • The US has had a long and difficult equal voting rights history • Today, with fair laws, ALL citizens over age 18 can VOTE!

1789 US Constitution permitted WHITE MEN with land to VOTE!

1830’s Non-land owning white men can VOTE! 1865 – 1868 Constitutional amendments end slavery and grant blacks citizenship

1870 15 th Amendment Black men can VOTE!

Voting Rights Resistance 1868 -1971 • Grandfather Clause • Literacy Tests • Poll Taxes • Intimidation • Violence • Murder

Black Women and the VOTE! African American Women and the VOTE! • Shut of the suffrage movement, Black women formed their own clubs • Black clubs invited to 1913 suffrage March on Washington • Asked to march in BACK of procession • Ida B. Wells-Barnett took a stand against white resistance

1920 19 th Amendment US women gain VOTING Rights

1947 Legal challenge wins VOTE! for ALL Native Americans

Voting Rights More Resistance. More Laws. 1964 Civil Rights Act 24 th Amendment to the U. S. Constitution 1965 National Voter Rights Act 1966 Poll Tax Unconstitutional

1971 26 th Amendment 18 year olds get VOTE!

Consider This • America ranks 35 th in voter turnout among democracies • Voters have equal power regardless of income, education, race, or gender • Voters with little or no education and limited income vote at rates half of those of their wealthier and educated counterparts

Your Choice! VOTE Have a say about the quality of your life and community NO VOTE Have NO say about anything of lasting value

Don’t Forget! • Who you vote for matters. Local, state and national representatives make decisions that directly impact the quality of your life • Your vote does not guarantee that your views will always be represented. • It’s important to stay in contact with your representatives and to VOTE!

And, Remember This! • Your vote does not guarantee a win for your candidate • A No Vote guarantees that your thoughts, views and concerns will never be addressed

It’s Time To Take Action! Registration & Election Info Your local Board of Elections Local Elected Officials Your local City Hall VA State Elected Officials House of Delegates www. dela. state. va. us Senate of Virginia www. sov. state. va. us

Taking Action! Congressional Elected Officials US House of Representatives Washington, D. C. 20515 202. 224. 3121 Switchboard www. house. gov US Senate Washington, D. C. 20510 202. 224. 3121 Switchboard www. senate. gov Voter Restoration Rights Info Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth PO Box 2454 Richmond, VA 23218 -2454 804. 692. 2531 www. commonwealth. virginia. gov

Contact US! Urban League of Hampton Roads Urban League Guild of Hampton Roads Project VOTE! 3225 High Street Portsmouth, VA 23707 Phone: 757. 627. 0864 Fax: 757. 966. 0613 www. ulhr. org Whitney M. Young, Jr. Executive Director National Urban League 1961 -1971