AAUW Benicia-Vallejo Presents a Free Zoom program:

“What Can I Do to Protect Voting”

6:30 pm, Wednesday, March. 16, 2022.

Protecting Voting will be the topic at the next Benicia-Vallejo branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) free Zoom program at 6:30 pm, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. Geri Kahn, an immigration attorney, and branch member, will be our featured speaker. She practices both in Benicia and San Francisco.

The program will describe efforts to ensure every eligible citizen can vote in the United States. It will review current voter suppression campaigns in the country and describe efforts to fight for voter reform.

The program is free; adults and students are encouraged to attend the presentation.

Individuals may join the Zoom meeting by using this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85259881099?pwd=M2dDTmxYQ3RJSXZqbmxIbVpwTFVhdz09#success

Alternatively, users may go to the link www.zoom.com and enter the following information:

The Meeting ID is 852 5988 1099.

The Passcode is 796667.

Following the presentation, a question and answer session will be held.

An article by the Brennan Center for Justice provides some history on the theme of the program. It said,” The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was perhaps the most effective civil rights law in American history. It changed the South and the country. By 2012, Black voter turnout had equaled or exceeded white voter turnout in states like Louisiana, Alabama, and South Carolina. Everyone, everyone, agreed that the Voting Rights Act worked.”

In 2013, however, in Shelby County v. Holder, five Supreme Court justices ruled that the “Voting Rights Act was outdated,” and they eviscerated its protections. The four dissenting justices predicted the decision would allow the return of discriminatory voting laws.

The Brennan Center for Justice article continued saying, “The dissenters were right. This year alone, 19 states have passed dozens of laws making it harder to vote. Many of those states would have been required to seek federal permission had the Voting Rights Act stood.”

The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act had provisions to assure voter protection. On November 3, 2021, Senate Republicans voted to block debate on the Act and prevent the bill from receiving a floor vote.

Participants at the AAUW program are encouraged to bring examples of actions they have taken or concerns they feel need more formal attention.

To join the American Association of University Women, please visit the website https://beniciavallejo-ca.aauw.net/. Questions can be emailed to bvaauw [at] gmail.com.