NASS Resolution on Voting Rights
Approved February 2004; Amended and Reauthorized July 2009, July 2014, July 2019
WHEREAS, the right to vote is one of the most important rights of citizenship in a democratic country; and
WHEREAS, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 65 percent of white, non-Hispanic voting-age citizens exercised their right to vote in the 2016 presidential election, compared to more than 59 percent of voting-age African-American citizens, 47 percent of Hispanic citizens and more than 49 percent of citizens identifying as other; and
WHEREAS, the nation's secretaries of state are firmly committed to protecting each citizen's right to vote, and by extension, each citizen's right to register to vote; and
WHEREAS, the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) supports all voter registration efforts in America whose goal is to enfranchise all qualified voters; and
WHEREAS, NASS continues to achieve reforms designed to improve voter turnout and election administration, including support of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the 1993 National Voter Registration Act and the Help America Vote Act of 2002; and
WHEREAS, previous NASS resolutions, projects and initiatives have addressed low voter turnout with our continued efforts to encourage turnout and by discussing voter registration efforts during NASS Election Committee meetings and workshops, participating in National Voter Registration Month, National Voter Registration Day and developing and maintaining the canivote.org website and hosting NASS New Voter Forums to address how to best engage with youth, minority, veteran, military and overseas voters, as well as those in the disabled community; and
WHEREAS, NASS continues to work with youth, civil and disability rights groups to educate Congress and the public on the significant efforts to increase voter participation, particularly those led by groups and the states;
NOW THEREFORE IT BE RESOLVED that NASS emphatically encourages all citizens to participate in elections by registering and ultimately voting.
- Reauthorized July 3rd, 2019 in Santa Fe, New Mexico
- EXPIRES: Summer 2024
