Statement from Jana Morgan, Director of the Declaration for American Democracy – a coalition of 160 organizations from the labor, racial justice, voting rights, faith, environmental, women’s rights, good government, and many other important communities – in response to the Senate’s COVID-19 stimulus bill:
“The Senate’s exclusion of any election protection funding in the new COVID-19 stimulus bill is a disgrace to our democracy and the will of thousands of Americans who have already asked Congress to take action to protect our elections this fall. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and his Republican colleagues’ blatant disregard for the safety of voters is appalling, and forces Americans to choose between exercising their constitutional right to vote and safeguarding their health in this year’s elections.
The GOP knows that many states and cities desperately need an additional $3.6 billion in funding to protect voters’ health and voice at the ballot box, which was proposed in the House-passed HEROES Act, yet they provided exactly $0 to do so.
The U.S. is running out of time to protect our health and constitutional right to vote, and the Republican-controlled Senate is playing partisan politics with our democracy.
Citizens should make their voices heard by calling their Senators today to let them know that they must uphold their oath of office and defend the Constitution by ensuring that all Americans can vote safely this year.”
