NEWS

Voter suppression: A conversation with directors Dawn Porter and Liz Garbus

Voting is an American tradition, but so is preventing people from voting. As part of our voting rights countdown to the election, 30 Days Till Tomorrow, The Meteor held a socially-distanced outdoor watch party for the VP Debate at the Queens Drive-In in New York City together with Rooftop Films.

The event featured a conversation about voting rights in America with two directors who’ve spent years diving into the issue—Liz Garbus ("All in: The Fight for Democracy," co-directed by Lisa Cortés) and Dawn Porter, a founding member of The Meteor (“John Lewis: Good Trouble”).

“Voter Suppression: Then and Now,” moderated by Rebecca Carroll of WNYC (host of “Come Through” and also a Meteor founding member), explains some of the ways citizens have been robbed of their right to vote in the past—and still are today.

Watch the extended cut of their conversation

https://www.facebook.com/WeAretheMeteor/posts/185480286361612

Creative Producer: Marjan Tehrani • Editors: Ellen Callaghan and Sophie Geidt • Music: Emily Wells

“When we look at the course of our history, we see these expansions of the franchise and contractions, like a roller coaster,” Liz Garbus explains, highlighting as one example the Mississippi Plan of 1890—enacted after 67% of Black voters participated in elections—which required would-be voters to both read and interpret the Constitution.

Voter disenfranchisement is still going on today, Garbus continues. “When you look at the kind of ID laws that are enacted in various states, they have a disproportionate effect on poor people, young people, people of color,” she explains. “Texas is a great example. You can vote with your gun license—that’s an acceptable ID—but your student ID or your public housing ID is not. So if you’re really worrying about voter fraud, then why wouldn’t you allow all those IDs in play? No—because it’s about race and it’s about power.”

Compounding the problem, both directors agreed, are recent changes to voter legislation, in particular, the 2013 Supreme Court legislation of Shelby County vs. Holder, which allowed voting jurisdictions with a history of discrimination to escape federal oversight.

“Until the Shelby decision, it was really important a fair justice department had the ability to review changes to voting laws,” explains Porter. “That was the ‘pre-clearance” provision of the federal voting laws. And when that was struck down, that is when you see this flood of efforts.”

Changes to voting laws resulted in many people not being able to vote in 2016. “You saw all this dialogue in 2016 about Black and brown voters not showing up for Hillary Clinton, but nobody was talking about Shelby County. Nobody was talking about all the poll closures. Nobody was talking about the fact that different IDs were required in the state since 2013,” says Garbus. “Something really big had happened in between 2012 and 2016 and that is one of the reasons these films are important is giving you that broad view of that expansion and contraction of the franchise.”

Make a difference right now

Alarmed? You should be. Angry? Also correct. Determined? One hundred percent. Let’s all go reclaim what’s ours.​ To support all Americans’ right to vote, go to Fair Fight where you can sign up to text bank, help document voter experiences or, if you’re able, donate.​

Learn more

Watch “John Lewis: Good Trouble” produced and directed by Dawn Porter about the life of legendary Congressman John Lewis.

Watch “All in: The Fight for Democracy” directed by Liz Garbus and Lisa Cortés about the life and work of voting rights advocate and former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams.

by The Meteor

Welcome to "The Meteor Explains"

I came of age in the social media era where important issues are fixated on one day and completely forgotten the next. (We’re looking at you, Amazon rainforest and equal pay.) We developed “The Meteor Explains” as an educational IGTV video series that delves into the lesser known feminist history of trending topics—with the aim of giving the kind of context it’s easy to miss.

I’ve talked about the housing crisis, sharecropping and even the post office.

Each episode covers issues related to gender, race, socioeconomic inequality and U.S. public policy—and I film and edit the whole thing in my apartment, so thanks for watching!

We tackle subjects at the center of public debate in a way we hope makes them easy to share and enjoy. Think “Bill Nye the Science Guy” but for the feminist in your life.

Check out “My Body, My (Other) Choice” and then follow The Meteor on Instagram to catch our future Explainers.

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by Treasure Brooks

Voting in 2020: Everything you need to know

(because it's never mattered more)

And we’re off! As of early October, voting has already begun in many states across the country. And by November 3, 2020, millions of American will cast their ballot by mail or in person, in what’s arguably the most consequential election of our lifetime.

A confluence of four major events — a global pandemic, a devastating recession, a much-needed racial reckoning, and our rapidly changing climate — have exacerbated huge divides in our country that disproportionately affect women and people of color. And that’s why it’s more important than ever for our interests to be represented at the polls.

Women account for 51 percent of the U.S. population — an advantage! — but we don’t have the best track record for turning out in elections. Only about 63 percent of us voted in the 2016 presidential election. (U.S. voter turnout was much lower than many other developed countries.)

There’s a lot of forces that contribute to that dismal rate. One, it’s hard to vote — especially for workers. Only 30 states have laws allowing employees to take time off to vote. And two, voter suppression is rampant. Look at Georgia’s 2018 gubernatorial election, when records showed thousands of voters were purged from the rolls and others faced hours-long lines.

Black Americans’ voting rights, in particular, have faced attacks: One in 13 Black Americans are unable to vote due to disenfranchisement laws, from strict ID rules to gerrymandering. And this year, all those threats are compounded by a global pandemic.

Regardless, we must show up. Our very democracy hangs in the balance. If it’s been hard for you to vote in the past, there are more groups than ever to help. If it hasn’t been hard, now’s the time to step up to help your neighbors do it. Here’s how to get started.

First, let’s get you registered.

• How to do it: If you want to vote this year, it’s imperative to check your voter registration status. Head over to Vote.org to see if you’re registered — the whole process takes only 30 seconds. And you can register on that same site.
• For more detailed info: Every state has different registration processes, and Slate has a helpful how-to guide, outlining instructions and any notable hurdles. In some states, such as California, you can register at the polls on Election Day, but many states like Arizona have early deadlines. Oh, and one last thing: Don’t get creative with your signature on your registration form, as states like Arkansas can reject your ballot later on if the signature doesn’t match the one on file.
• And some backstory: The U.S. Constitution grants the right to vote to citizens over the age of 18 — and the 19th Amendment, ratified 100 years ago, secured the right to vote for women. (Many black women, of course, had to fight for another five decades to receive the same right.) Rules around voting with a felony record vary from state to state (read more about that here). But just because you’re eligible doesn’t mean that you’re actually registered. So follow the steps above.

If you want to vote by mail

• How to do it: Request your mail-in ballot over at Vote.org asap. If you’re still waiting on your mail-in ballot to arrive, here’s how you can track it online.
• For more detailed info: Brookings has called vote-by-mail “the safest and most secure way to vote in a pandemic.” At least three-quarters of American voters will be eligible to vote-by-mail, per The New York Times. Nine states and D.C. will be mailing ballots directly to all voters, while others require you to request a ballot. The New York Times also reports that seven states require an “excuse” for mail-in voting. Per Slate's guide, “fear of Covid-19” counts as an excuse in some states like New York, but not all (looking at you, South Carolina). Some states also require you to have a witness sign your absentee ballot. As you can see, there’s a lot of fine print, so reference Slate’s guide for your state’s exact rules. And here’s a list of the deadlines by each state.
• And some backstory: Voting by mail is a long established practice — often utilized by those requiring absentee ballots who are unable to make it to the polls — but there’s a lot of confusion and concern this year. Still, the Brennan Center has assured Americans that vote-by-mail is secure and essential.

If you will be voting in person

• How to do it: You can vote in-person early in many states, as well as on Election Day (November 3). Head Count makes it easy to find your polling place. Just click on your state and you’ll be directed right to your board of elections website.
• For more detailed info: In-person voting has already begun in many states like Minnesota, Illinois, and Michigan. Find out if, and when, your state offers it here, and if you can, take advantage of the early bird special — polling locations should be less crowded. Vote.org has compiled a list of every state’s early in-person voting rules. Of course you can also vote in-person on Election Day. Given the Covid-19 pandemic, be sure to read — and follow — the CDC’s guidelines for protecting yourself and others.
• And some backstory: In-person voting during a pandemic presents unique challenges — but you can still cast your ballot at the polls this election. Just like mail-in voting, each state will be handling voting differently this year. FiveThirtyEight is regularly updating its state-by-state guide, including whether there have been any plans to consolidate or close polls in any state. The guide also specifies the voter ID rules of different states.

Some more important resources for you

• If you’ve changed your name: Update your registration here — 34 percent of women could be turned away from the polls for not having proper documents if they recently changed their name.
• If you’ve moved: You’ll need to take steps to ensure you’re able to vote. For in state moves, update your existing registration. But if you’ve moved out of state, you’ll need to register to vote in that state.
• If you are disabled: The National Disability Rights Network can help you prepare to vote in your state.
• If you are a survivor of domestic violence: The National Network to End Domestic Violence has information about state-run Address Confidentiality Programs (ACP) and Confidential Voter Listings, which allow people to vote while protecting their privacy. Read more here.
• If you need help getting to the polls: Uber and Lyft are offering discounted rides to polling places and ballot drop-off locations. Some organizations, like RideShare2Vote, also help connect you with free transportation to voting sites.
• If you experience voter interference: Bookmark, read and share the ACLU’s guide on voting rights. It's got everything from your general rights on Election Day to what to do if someone is interfering with your right to vote.

Want to help on Election Day? Become a poll worker.

• How to do it: Sign up at Power to the Polls, and read up on how to become a poll worker at your specific state — particularly Kentucky or Georgia, both of which faced major voting challenges during the primaries.
• For more detailed info: Marie Claire helps clear up a major misconception about these positions: poll workers are not volunteers. The positions are often paid, and some employers are even paying their employees to work at the polls this year.
• And some backstory: A great way to help with early voting and Election Day is to sign up to be a poll worker — a role that’s particularly needed this year, as officials fear a nationwide shortage of poll workers due to Covid-19. Poll workers help staff local election sites to make sure things run smoothly, checking in voters and helping them understand their ballots. (Of course, they’re also the ones giving out those “I Voted” stickers.) But as Power to the Polls notes, the position is incredibly important given the health risks of large gatherings. These workers will also help voters maintain physical distance and wipe down machines and equipment. They’ll also open and count mail-in ballots.

Help protect other people’s right to vote.

• How to do it: Brush up on your voting rights through When We All Vote. You can also support an organization like Fair Fight, founded by Stacey Abrams, that’s working to promote free and fair elections across the country. Or join the nonpartisan Native Vote initiative as a coordinator to help encourage active participation among Native voters.
• For more detailed info: When We All Vote’s guide has easily digestible sections about what to bring to the polls, what to do if you’re still in line when the polls close (stay in line — it’s your right to vote), and how to report voter suppression. Elle shares additional organizations you can support, including those working to stop partisan gerrymandering, which is when voting district lines are redrawn to favor a certain party. You can also read CNN’s explainer on the issue. Plus, read about the barriers to voting facing Native Americans.
• And some backstory: Voter suppression is a longstanding and widespread problem in the United States, undermining democracy — and disproportionately young people, people of color, incarcerated people, those with disabilities and the elderly. It’s what happens when officials make it harder for some people to vote. This can range from blocking early voting or enacting harmful voter ID laws to gerrymandering or purging names from voter rolls. And it’s a particularly urgent problem for women of color, whose rights are under constant legislative attack and whose voices are routinely shut out of government.

And here are some other ways to help.

You can volunteer with organizations like Rock the Vote and When We All Vote to help get more people registered to vote.

Reach out to voters in swing states — which are the states that could potentially go to either party. (See CNN’s interactive electoral map for more on that.) For instance, you can sign up to write friendly postcards reminding people to get out and vote. (Keep in mind: you need to go through an approval process before you can start.)
Donate to an organization fighting for fair elections – from the ACLU to Common Cause.
Speak with friends or family members on the fence about voting — see HuffPost’s helpful advice about that.

by admin