CEO and Executive Director Tom Cochran writes a letter in support of important voting legislation
Washington, D.C.— Today, the U.S. Senate will vote on allowing debate on the Freedom to Vote Act (S. 2747), a bill that would create national standards for voting access in federal elections and make it easier for all eligible voters to participate. U.S. Conference of Mayors CEO and Executive Director Tom Cochran sent the following letter urging Senators to vote to proceed:
October 20, 2021
Dear Senator,
I write on behalf of the nation’s mayors to urge you to vote today to proceed on consideration of the Freedom to Vote Act (S. 2747) and to vote in support of this critically important legislation when it is considered. Voting is essential to maintaining and preserving democracy and is one of the most important rights and responsibilities that U.S. citizens have. The U.S. Conference of Mayors adopted strong policy in support of such legislation in June of this year.
American democracy is stronger when all eligible voters participate in elections. Yet voting rights are under historic attack and our very democracy is threatened. The Brennan Center reports that 19 states have passed 33 laws that make it harder to vote and that state and local election administrators face violent threats and intimidation for their public service.
The Freedom to Vote Act would stop this voter suppression. It would create national standards for voting access in federal elections that would neutralize many of the restrictive voting laws passed in the states. It would mandate early voting, no-excuse mail voting, an Election Day holiday, and protections for voters with disabilities to make voting as convenient as possible. It also would protect the free and fair administration of our elections by preventing the politicized removal of election officials, safeguard them from partisan intimidation and harassment during the election process, and set uniform rules for vote counting nationwide.
America’s mayors urge you to do the right thing and vote in support of the Freedom to Vote Act.
Sincerely,
Tom Cochran, CEO and Executive Director