Voter Empowerment
The SCLC possesses a robust and profound track record of ensuring the franchise for minorities in America. From the Selma to Montgomery victory, the Voter Rights Bill and other legislation passed in states throughout America, the SCLC has stood at the forefront of America’s most contentious civic battles. From Los Angeles to Atlanta and from America to diversifying nations abroad, the SCLC has inspired a broad range of democratic uprisings and movements that have furthered the agenda for human dignity and freedom.
The right to vote is the central pillar of American democracy. For African Americans, this basic citizenship right has been obstructed and gained only through bloodshed, protest and much political and social strife. In the 21st century, however, after much social, legal and political progress, African Americans still confront issues of voter suppression.
The SCLC, a direct action advocacy organization, is committed to ensuring that all American citizens may fully engage the democratic process. To protect and promote democratic engagement, the SCLC through its chapters and affiliates has advanced an extensive voter empowerment program which promotes:
The SCLC engages, educates and empowers our chapters, members and their communities to defend their right to vote by building strong collaborative community networks that challenge voter suppression tactics.
According to the U.S. Census every 1 in 3 African Americans was not registered to vote in 2008. The SCLC through nonpartisan engagement is committed to registering eligible voters and ensuring their turnout to the polls.
In 2008 and 2010, according to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning & Engagement’s April 2011 report, young African Americans led the way in youth voter turnout. Young African Americans voted at 27.5% compared to 24.9% of young white Americans, 17.6% young Latino Americans and 17.7% of young Asian Americans. While the SCLC views these statistics as an encouraging sign of greater youth civic participation, there is still much work to be done to further increase voter turnout among all ethnicities and races. And, given the sophisticated nature of current voter suppression efforts, a more substantial turnout among young African Americans is necessary.
The SCLC firmly stands in opposition to any voter suppression tactic levied by any group, organization or PAC. Through the strengthening of our chapter's capacity to address voter suppression, raising broad awareness about voter suppression and disenfranchising legislation, the SCLC is committed to securing the vote and voice of all Americans within our democracy.
The right to vote is the central pillar of American democracy. For African Americans, this basic citizenship right has been obstructed and gained only through bloodshed, protest and much political and social strife. In the 21st century, however, after much social, legal and political progress, African Americans still confront issues of voter suppression.
The SCLC, a direct action advocacy organization, is committed to ensuring that all American citizens may fully engage the democratic process. To protect and promote democratic engagement, the SCLC through its chapters and affiliates has advanced an extensive voter empowerment program which promotes:
- Voter Education
- Voter Registration
- Voter Protection
- and Get Out the Vote (GOTV) efforts.
The SCLC engages, educates and empowers our chapters, members and their communities to defend their right to vote by building strong collaborative community networks that challenge voter suppression tactics.
According to the U.S. Census every 1 in 3 African Americans was not registered to vote in 2008. The SCLC through nonpartisan engagement is committed to registering eligible voters and ensuring their turnout to the polls.
In 2008 and 2010, according to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning & Engagement’s April 2011 report, young African Americans led the way in youth voter turnout. Young African Americans voted at 27.5% compared to 24.9% of young white Americans, 17.6% young Latino Americans and 17.7% of young Asian Americans. While the SCLC views these statistics as an encouraging sign of greater youth civic participation, there is still much work to be done to further increase voter turnout among all ethnicities and races. And, given the sophisticated nature of current voter suppression efforts, a more substantial turnout among young African Americans is necessary.
The SCLC firmly stands in opposition to any voter suppression tactic levied by any group, organization or PAC. Through the strengthening of our chapter's capacity to address voter suppression, raising broad awareness about voter suppression and disenfranchising legislation, the SCLC is committed to securing the vote and voice of all Americans within our democracy.
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