ADVISORY FOR
February 21, 2013
CONTACT: Meredith Curtis, Communications Director, 410-889-8555; media@aclu-md.org
Sara Love, Public Policy Director, 703-963-2710; love@aclu-md.org
ANNAPOLIS - On February 21, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Maryland will testify to the House Ways & Means Committee in favor of legislation that would improve access to voting. The ACLU of Maryland strongly supports the same-day registration and early voting expansion proposals in House Bill 224, which was introduced on behalf of Governor Martin O'Malley. The ACLU believes voting to be the defining act of citizenship and that the act of voting should be made available to all eligible voters. The ACLU will testify that same-day registration and expanded early voting will accomplish the goal of encouraging eligible voter participation by making the act of voting more accessible.
The ACLU is supporting various aspects of the legislation in coalition with a broad range of organizations, including Common Cause Maryland, Communities United, Demos, the League of Women Voters of Maryland, Maryland PIRG, Progressive Maryland, and the Progressive States.
Statement of Sara Love, Public Policy Director of ACLU of Maryland: "This past Election Day, we heard from members across the state that they stood in line for hours only to find they had been kicked off the voter rolls, and there was no option for them to register at the polls to cast a ballot that counts. Allowing voters to register to vote during the election ensures that no eligible voter is turned away."
WHAT: Hearing in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee in support of HB 224.
WHO: Sara Love, Public Policy Director, ACLU of Maryland. Love will be available for interviews.
WHEN: Wednesday, February 21, 2013; hearing begins at 1 p.m.
WHERE: House Ways & Means Committee, House Office Building entrance, 6 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD.
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