THE CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS FOUNDATION HOLDS
A CONFERENCE ON THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT

Washington, DC— In 1965, Congress enacted the Voting Rights Act (VRA) to ensure that African Americans in the South would have equal access to the vote. Although the Act is a permanent federal statute, several provisions are temporary and came up for reauthorization and/or amendment in 1970, 1975, and 1982. These provisions are due to expire in 2007, unless reauthorized.

In anticipation of the VRA reauthorization vote, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) has invited civil rights activists, voting rights proponents, prominent scholars, legislators, public policy analysts and citizens to participate in a one-day conference on the Voting Rights Act. The “Strengthening Diversity in Democracy.” conference will be held Thursday, March 9, 2006, from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm. The purpose of the Conference is to present to the public many of the debates about the VRA that have been occurring in congressional committee rooms, at think tanks, and in colleges and universities.

The conference will consist of three panels. The first panel, “Voices from the Field: Testimonials of Voters and Voting Rights Activists,” will feature voters and community activists who have battled efforts to disfranchise minority voters in the years since 1982 – the last year the Voting Rights Act was reauthorized. This panel will run from 9:00am to 10:30am in the Members of Congress Room in the Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress.

In the second panel, “Minority Voting Rights: Lessons of the Past, Problems of the Present,” scholars, activists, and lawyers will explore trends in VRA violations and enforcement during the past twenty-five years. This panel will be held in the Hart Senate Office Building Rm. 902 from 11:00am to 2:00pm. The third panel, “Protecting Minority Voting Rights: Future Policy Directions,” will examine possible policy reforms to address current obstacles to minority voting. This panel will be held in the Members of Congress Room in the Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress. There will be reception immediately following the conference in the Rayburn Building Foyer from 5:00pm to 7:00pm.

“The Voting Rights Act is one of the most important pieces of legislation passed in the Twentieth Century,” said CBCF Chair, Rep. Kendrick Meek. “Without the vote, these minority groups would not be able to press their policy concerns in the halls of government. The upcoming Voting Rights Act reauthorization debate is of paramount importance not only to minority populations but to all Americans.”

“We here at CBCF believe that we have a responsibility to bring the debates surrounding reauthorization to the wider public,” said CBCF’s President and CEO, Dr. Don Tharpe. “Those of us who witnessed our parents and others risking their lives and livelihoods to vote understand firsthand the significance of the Voting Rights Act.”

CBCF is co-sponsoring the event with Reps. Danny Davis and Chaka Fattah. Explaining his reasons for participating in the conference, Rep. Davis stated, “The Voting Rights Act is just as important to African Americans and other minorities today as it was forty years ago. Widespread voting irregularities, felon disfranchisement, and “voter integrity” programs pose a serious contemporary threat to these groups’ access to the vote. It is my hope that this conference will bring public attention to these problems and stimulate Congress to act aggressively to ensure that all Americans have equal access to the ballot.”

Representative Fattah agreed stating that, “The Voting Rights Act is the legislative centerpiece of the civil rights movement. It has given millions of Americans the opportunity to participate fully in the political process. This conference promises to be a significant contribution to the future of the Act and an important analysis of issues confronting American democracy.”

The Voting Rights Act reauthorization debate has taken on special relevance since tens of thousands of people were displaced from New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina. In anticipation of the April municipal election, city and state election officials are in the process of deciding how to best reach voters who are scattered across the country.  Former CBCF Chair, Rep. William Jefferson, who represents New Orleans commented, "This conference and the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act are particularly relevant as New Orleans faces its first election since Katrina slammed our coast.  It is still unclear how displaced voters will be able to vote in the upcoming April city election.  There is a grave risk of disenfranchisement for those displaced by Katrina because they may not be able to make it to the polling stations in New Orleans or have certain access to absentee ballots.  As Americans, we need to pay close attention to these possibilities. It could be the first time since the Voting Rights Act was passed that we see such a massive disenfranchisement of voters.”

The conference is open to the public. Attendees can RSVP by going to www.cbcfinc.org or calling 202-263-2835. For more information, contact Patty Rice at 202-263-2829 or price@cbcfinc.org. The CBCF, established in 1976, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan public policy, research and educational institute focused on leadership education, public health, economic development, and African globalism