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 21st 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

• The US has had a long and difficult equal voting rights history

• Today, with fair laws, ALL citizens over age 18 can VOTE!

Why Bother to VOTE!

US Constitution permitted WHITE MEN with land to

VOTE!

1789

Non-land owning white men can

VOTE!

1830’s

1865 – 1868 Constitutional amendments end slavery

and grant blacks citizenship

15th AmendmentBlack men can VOTE!

1870

• Grandfather

Clause• Literacy Tests• Poll Taxes• Intimidation• Violence• Murder

Voting Rights Resistance 1868-1971

Black Women and the VOTE!

• Shut out 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

African American Women and the VOTE!

192019th Amendment

US women gain VOTING Rights

1947 Legal challenge

wins VOTE! for ALL Native

Americans

1964Civil Rights Act

24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution1965

National Voter Rights Act 1966

Poll Tax Unconstitutional

Voting RightsMore Resistance. More Laws.

197126th

Amendment18 year olds

get

VOTE!

• America ranks 35th 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

Consider This

VOTEHave a say about the quality of your life and community

NO VOTE Have NO say about anything of lasting value

Your Choice!

• 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!

Don’t Forget!

• Your vote does not guarantee a win for your candidate

• A No Vote guarantees that your thoughts, views and concerns will never be addressed

And, Remember This!

Registration & Election Info Your local Board of Elections

Local Elected OfficialsYour local City Hall

VA State Elected OfficialsHouse of Delegateswww.dela.state.va.usSenate of Virginia www.sov.state.va.us

It’s Time To Take Action!

Congressional Elected OfficialsUS House of RepresentativesWashington, D.C. 20515202.224.3121 Switchboardwww.house.gov

US SenateWashington, D.C. 20510202.224.3121 Switchboardwww.senate.gov

Voter Restoration Rights InfoOffice of the Secretary of the CommonwealthPO Box 2454Richmond, VA 23218-2454804.692.2531www.commonwealth.virginia.gov

Taking Action!

Urban League of Hampton Roads

Urban League Guild of Hampton Roads

Project VOTE!

3225 High StreetPortsmouth, VA 23707Phone: 757.627.0864Fax: 757.966.0613

www.ulhr.org

Contact US!

Whitney M. Young, Jr.Executive Director

National Urban League 1961-1971