(WASHINGTON, October 20, 2021) – Daniel J. Cardinali, president and CEO of Independent Sector issues the following statement:
“Today, the U.S. Senate failed to secure the votes to proceed with an open debate on The Freedom to Vote Act, legislation which Independent Sector strongly encouraged the Senate to act on.
Open, fair, and accurate elections, and increased voter participation serve as the bedrock of democratic society. Unfortunately, as we have seen again today, efforts to improve the integrity and accessibility of voting, through the policymaking process, are frozen in partisanship. Failure to act on these policies weakens civil society and further erodes public trust in our democratic institutions.
Nonprofits, in communities across the nation, have seen a wide range of voting policy changes at the state and local levels in the past year. These changes improved the ability of nonprofits to help citizens vote in some areas and made it more difficult in others. Federal action is urgently needed to scale effective voting policies that research shows benefits political parties. While a growing number of nonprofits stand ready to work as nonpartisan advocates in support of those policies, federal policymakers must first find the political courage to chart a path forward.
In adopting its voting policy principles, Independent Sector noted that voter participation – especially in Black, Native, and other communities of color – is a fundamental indicator of human thriving. Because it is the work of all nonprofits to advance a thriving society, Independent Sector believes that protecting the accessibility of voting and ensuring fair election administration must now be the work of all nonprofits, regardless of mission.”
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Independent Sector is the only national membership organization that brings together a diverse community of changemakers, nonprofits, foundations, and corporations working to strengthen civil society and ensure all people in the United States thrive.
Media Contact:
Bradley Wong
202-467-6122
media@independentsector.org
