WASHINGTON, DC – Christine Chen, Executive Director of Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote, responds to President Biden’s speech in favor of prioritizing voting rights legislation in Georgia yesterday afternoon.
“On the Quad at Clark Atlanta University/Morehouse College, President Biden made his most compelling case yet for the urgent need of voting rights legislation. In the same Congressional District once represented by John Lewis, President Biden put the need for voting rights legislation in a historical context underscored by the urgency we face today.
There is no time to waste. Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote) calls on the Senate to protect our voting rights by passing The Freedom to Vote Act and The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act immediately.
“Fair elections and protecting our freedom to vote are fundamental to our democracy,” said Christine Chen, Executive Director of APIAVote. “They give our communities a voice in guiding the policies that most impact our lives, and we cannot let that be diluted or suppressed.
“We saw from the last presidential election and the regional elections in 2020 that Asian and Pacific Islander Americans went to the polls in record numbers. And we saw how an increasing number of us prefer to vote early and vote by mail. These two crucial legislative bills address some of our key concerns around voter protection and accessibility.
“Key provisions in The Freedom to Vote Act will ensure equal voting access to all by setting uniform federal voting policies on mail-in ballots, early voting and voter registration (including automatic and same-day registration). It will also establish Election Day as a federal holiday, so voters will have the ability to vote without having to take time off work.
“The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act would restore and update the full protections of the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965. It is crucial to ensuring that elections are fair and free – including preventing discrimination for minority voters.
“We urge the Senate to pass The Freedom to Vote Act and The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, so that our communities’ needs – from healthcare and education – are met, and to make sure our elected officials address anti-Asian hate and other discriminatory practices affecting the lives of AAPIs across the country.”
Chen went on to explain that the bills represent fundamentals that the community has been supporting for decades. During those years, voting rights legislation has always passed with strong bipartisan support. It must not become a partisan issue today.”
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About APIAVote: Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote) is a national nonpartisan organization that works with partners to mobilize Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAPI) in electoral and civic participation. APIAVote envisions a world that is inclusive, fair, and collaborative, and where AAPI communities are self-determined, empowered, and engaged. See our website for more information at https://www.apiavote.org/
