10 Questions Live: How Kristen Clarke is fighting voter suppression
With Election Day drawing ever nearer, Kristen Clarke and her co-workers are gearing up to make sure that no eligible voter is turned away from the polls.
Clarke is president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, a Washington, D.C.-based group that was formed in the 1960s at the behest of President John F. Kennedy to galvanize the private bar in the fight for equal justice.
“Right now in 2016, it’s a really interesting moment, because the reality is that voter suppression is alive and well across the country,” Clarke told reporter Jenny Davis during the ABA’s 10 Questions Live Google Hangout on Thursday. “We’re seeing in places like Texas, photo ID requirements; we’re seeing states cut back on early voting; we’re seeing efforts to purge legitimately registered voters from the registration election rolls. So our Election Protection program is all about safeguarding access to the ballot box on Election Day.”
On Election Day, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law will be operating with staff in outposts across the nation, Clarke said. The lawyers and other volunteers will be on hand to respond to any voter concerns reported to their hotline, 866-OUR-VOTE. In the Google Hangout, Clarke also describes the efforts the group has put forth in the run-up to Election Day.
“Our end goal is making sure that every eligible American is able to have their voice heard—and most importantly, vote—on Election Day.”
Clarke also addressed her organization’s focus on criminal justice reform, and their efforts to end an era of mass incarceration. Watch the video of her full conversation with Jenny Davis below.
