Rock the Vote Statement on U.S. Supreme Court Ruling in Husted v. A. Philip Randolph Institute
Rock the Vote, a national nonpartisan organization dedicated to building the political power of young people that played a critical role in the passage of the National Voter Registration Act in 1993, issued the following statement on Monday’s United States Supreme Court ruling in Husted v. A. Philip Randolph Institute, which upheld Ohio’s process of purging of voters from its rolls:
“Today in a 5-4 ruling, the Supreme Court upheld that Ohio can purge eligible voters from its rolls simply for missing an election. This decision sets a troubling precedent for other states to pursue extreme, inaccurate voter purging practices that disenfranchise eligible voters,” stated Carolyn DeWitt, President and Executive Director of Rock the Vote.
“Voting is not a “use it or lose it” right, and our democracy depends on every eligible voter having the chance to make their voice heard. Young voters, people of color, and low-income communities often vote less frequently, making them particularly vulnerable to Ohio’s voter purging practice that removes voters simply for missing a couple of elections and a piece of mail—even if there’s no evidence they’ve become ineligible.
“Today’s decision goes against the intent of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), which Rock the Vote helped pass twenty-five years ago. The NVRA was meant to help more people to register and vote, not to have them arbitrarily purged from the rolls.
“Despite today’s ruling, other states can—and must—do better. Together, we can create a democracy where every eligible voter has the chance to cast a ballot and engage on the issues they care about. Rock the Vote will continue to fight so that every voter can exercise their freedom at the ballot box.”
Alongside The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Texas Civil Rights Project, and Nuns on the Bus of Ohio, Rock the Vote filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court in Husted v. A. Philip Randolph Institute, which can be found here.
About Rock the Vote:
Rock the Vote is a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to building the political power of young people. For over 25 years, Rock the Vote has revolutionized the way we use pop culture, music, art and technology to engage young people in politics, registering and turning out millions of young voters on campuses, in communities, and online. Learn more at rockthevote.org and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @rockthevote.