Election law conference held by National Press Club will explore the new paradigm in US voting

A National Press Club Newsmaker news conference on Friday, May 13, at 10 a.m. EDT will look at problems with access and changes to election law across the country and likely problems voters and especially minority voters, will face this November.

Speakers in the club’s Zenger Room include: Kristen Clarke, President and Executive Director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law; Wade Henderson, the President and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights; Mark Dimondstein, President of the American Postal Workers Union (APWU); and Cory McCray, Member of the Maryland House of Delegates.

In 2016, states such as Texas and North Carolina are making it harder for citizens to vote by imposing new identification requirements at the polls. Other states, like Florida, are disenfranchising thousands of former felons, while in Maryland and Virginia former felons are gaining the right to vote. Some Arizona voters stood in line for hours at polling places in the March primary, while in Oregon, voters this month will cast their ballots by mail.

Many of the variations in election law resulted from the 2013 Supreme Court decision Shelby County v Holder, which eliminated federal oversight and allowed sweeping changes to election rules previously barred by the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The 2016 presidential election will be the first since these changes were approved.

In addition to Election Day modifications, many states are altering voter registration rules. California and Oregon are expanding access this election cycle through automatic voter registration and 25 other states are considering similar actions.

The National Press Club is located on the 13th Floor of the National Press Building, 529 14th Street NW, Washington, D.C. This event is open to credentialed media and NPC members, free of charge. No advance registration is required.

Contact: Jamie Horwitz, NPC Newsmaker Chair, 202-549-4921, jhdcpr@starpower.net