Carnegie Corporation of New York Launches New Voting Rights Report, Philanthropy’s Role in Protecting and Strengthening American Democracy
The Role of Philanthropy in Protecting American Democracy
There is a new urgency today for American philanthropies to protect the right to vote for all eligible citizens. The philanthropic community has worked alongside the government to protect these rights for decades, but since a 2013 Supreme Court ruling eliminated key parts of the Voting Rights Act, there has been a dramatic increase across the country in barriers to voting. These new barriers often disproportionately affect low-income voters, rural voters, communities of color, young people, and people with disabilities.
American philanthropies now have an opportunity to protect and strengthen U.S. democracy by providing badly needed investments in the country’s voting infrastructure, paying attention to these issues beyond election time, and joining with others to support litigation against illegal voting barriers.
Download the report to learn more.
How Philanthropy Can Help
INVEST IN CORE SUPPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE. Since the 2013 Shelby County vs. Holder ruling opened space for new voter suppression efforts, organizations working on voting rights have faced unprecedented pressure. They monitor elections, support targeted populations, advocate for voter friendly policies, and bring legal action when needed. To continue to effectively tackle their mission, these organizations need to strengthen their staffing, infrastructure, and technology. They also need expanded support to collaborate with those at the local, state, and national levels...