Democracy Wins! Mi Familia Vota Applauds Judge’s Decision to Send Ballots to Inactive Voters

MEDIA STATEMENT

Democracy Wins! Mi Familia Vota Applauds Judge’s Decision to Send Ballots to Inactive Voters in Denver 

DENVER– Inactive Latino voters in Denver will receive their ballots this week thanks to a decision handed down in district court on Friday lifting an injunction by the Colorado Secretary of State Scott Gessler.

 “We are thrilled with the court’s decision which ruled in favor of democracy so that 54,000 voters can now fully participate in this election,” stated MFV Colorado State Director Grace López Ramírez. “The decision in Denver has opened the door for other counties, including Pueblo and Pitkin, to mail to inactive voters.”

Mi Familia Vota and its partners have actively encouraged County Clerks to mail ballots to “inactive/fail to vote” voters. Mi Familia Vota, along with Colorado Common Cause and the Urban League, filed an amicus brief on Thursday, Oct. 5 backing Denver’s case against the Colorado Secretary of State Scott Gessier, who filed a lawsuit only two days after Denver County Clerk and Recorder Debra Johnson announced plans to send ballots to inactive voters for the Nov. 1 election.

The term “inactive voters” is comprised of two categories, “inactive/fail to vote” and “inactive/returned mail.” The “fail to vote” group merely did not vote in the 2010 election and have not returned postcards from the clerk asking them to call in and have them activated. They are still eligible voters.

“The Judge’s decision is a win for thousands of Latino voters in Denver – a growing population of voters who as U.S. citizens have every right to exercise their Constitutional right to vote,” added López Ramírez. “Mi Familia Vota will continue to defend Latino citizens from potential attacks on one of their most precious rights as citizens and remove any unfair barriers to the ballot box.”

Mi Familia Vota Education Fund (MFVEF) is a nonpartisan, 501c (3) organization working to unite and build power in Latino, immigrant and allied communities, to ensure social and eco\\\nomic justice through increased civic engagement.  Mi Familia Vota has served on ACCESO, the Spanish Language Advisory Committee to the Denver Clerk and Recorder and Denver Elections since 2008. For more information visit www.mifamiliavota.org.

###      

Post a Comment