Press Contact: media@hispanicfederation.org
Washington, DC — Yesterday, the Supreme Court delivered welcomed news for voters across the country: mail-in ballots will continue to be utilized by the nearly one-third of Americans who rely on them to cast their ballot. This decision blocked last-minute restrictions that were being pushed forward as the midterm elections were already underway. Below is a statement from Frankie Miranda, President and CEO of Hispanic Federation.
“Civic participation – the right to register, to vote, and to have our vote counted – is central to our democracy and to the story of Latinos in the United States. Latino and historically disenfranchised voters have long used mail-in ballots to make their voices heard while balancing multiple jobs, caring for family, or living in communities where polling locations are difficult to access.
The Supreme Court’s common-sense decision on mail-in ballots has held back the latest attack on our democracy. Last week we heard President Trump tell his supporters to ‘cheat like hell’ in the midterm elections, sending a clear message that the fight to restrict mail-in ballots was never about election integrity. Recent efforts to restrict voting rights have been disguised as bureaucratic language, timed to create confusion around election rights as ballots were going out the door.
Yesterday’s SCOTUS decision was only a reprieve. The forces working against free and fair elections will try again; they are relentless. But so are we. That is why National Voter Registration Day matters so much. Every eligible voter registered, every ballot requested, and every neighbor reminded to check their registration status is a step toward a democratic system that works for everyone.
Hispanic Federation remains committed to defending the freedom to vote and ensuring every eligible voter can participate fully in our democracy.”
###
About Hispanic Federation
Hispanic Federation (HF) is a nonprofit membership and advocacy organization, founded in 1990, committed to empowering and advancing the Hispanic community, with a focus on low-income, marginalized, and immigrant Latine. With programs in 43 states and territories, HF’s focus areas include immigration, economic empowerment, civic engagement, disaster relief, philanthropy, education, health, and the environment. HF also maintains ongoing public education campaigns and meets the organizational development needs of its member agencies through grant-making and capacity-building assistance.
