Protecting Our Democracy

For Immediate Release April 10, 2025 Chispa Contact: Elena Gaona, egaona@lcv.org 202-907-9717 Washington, D.C. — In response to the House passage of the so-called SAVE Act, Chispa and the League of Conservation Voters (LCV)  issued the following statements: “After a week of economic chaos at the hands of our national leaders and millions of Americans protesting peacefully against this mayhem, the House is still deciding to mirror the disastrous and unconstitutional actions of the Trump administration. The House still insists on pushing the anti-voter SAVE Act, which is a transparent attempt to put up unnecessary barriers to voting for all eligible Americans by using prejudiced lies about immigrants,” said Art Terrazas, Chispa LCV Legislative and Policy Manager. “Tens of millions of American citizens don’t have the specific documents required under the SAVE Act – a passport or an original copy of their birth certificate when registering to vote or updating their voter registration in person. This will hurt military voters, tribal voters, rural voters, survivors of natural disasters, and tens of millions of married women in America who have changed their names. We urge Congress to reject the SAVE Act and focus instead on actions that will truly strengthen our elections and ensure that all eligible voters have access to vote instead of scapegoating immigrant communities.” *** “Just days after millions of people across the country turned out to protest Trump and his administration’s unconstitutional actions, the House wants to take away the voices of millions of Americans and their right to vote in free and fair elections,” said LCV Democracy Program Director Justin Kwasa. “Passage of the so-called SAVE Act would put financial burdens on voters and election offices, costing voters time and money to access their fundamental freedom to vote. Additionally, this anti-voter legislation would create unnecessary barriers on tens of millions of women and other eligible voters who have changed their names, elderly and rural voters, over a hundred million eligible voters who don’t have a passport, and millions of other eligible voters who deserve to have their voices heard at the ballot box.  We’ll continue to fight for our democracy, and applaud the vast majority of House Democrats who voted against this bill in addition to Leader Schumer and Senate Democrats for their critical commitment to block this massive attack on the American people’s freedom to choose our own leaders. We now call on all Senators to reject it.” ###

Washington, D.C.— In response to the reintroduction of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act in the U.S. House of Representatives, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) and Chispa issued the following statements: “Sixty years after Representative John Lewis was attacked on a bridge in Selma, Alabama, for demanding the right to vote, our fundamental rights, including our right to vote in free and fair elections, are under escalating attacks,” said LCV Democracy Program Director Justin Kwasa. “As the Trump administration, extremist Republicans in Congress, and far-right Justices on the Supreme Court attempt to roll back voting rights and prioritize the interests of Big Polluters and ultra-wealthy corporate CEOs over people in this country, it is critical that we protect every voter’s freedom to vote — no matter their race, income, or zip code. We urge Congress to pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and other critical voting rights legislation, including the Freedom to Vote Act and D.C. Statehood.” *** “The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act is needed now more than ever as our nation and communities face a ruthless assault on democracy, our civil rights, and our right to vote,” said Chispa Senior Director Estefany Carrasco-González. “Our democracy is stronger when all citizens can participate freely and fairly, not just a few. Instead, we have constant attempts – from voter suppression to disinformation – to justify trying over and over to take away the right to vote from eligible voters. The reintroduction of this bill is critical to protect our fundamental right to choose leaders to represent us.” ###   Source: https://www.lcv.org/media-center/the-john-r-lewis-voting-rights-advancement-act-will-protect-voters-freedom-to-vote/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 23, 2024 Site-based effort registering eligible voters in communities of color and rural communities in Arizona Phoenix, AZ — Chispa Arizona, a program of the League of Conservation Voters (LCV), announced its site-based voter registration program in Arizona has registered 33,000 eligible voters to date in 2024 in communities historically excluded from voter registration efforts, including in communities of color and rural communities, and is well on its way to meeting its goal of 40,000. The Chispa Arizona program is part of one of the nation’s largest programs to register eligible voters. This national effort to register historically underrepresented voters includes programs in California, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin, and focuses on communities of color registering and engaging historically disenfranchised communities ahead of the 2024 elections. The overall goal is 350,000 voter registrations in 2024, including 40,000 in Arizona. **** “Without a strong healthy democracy where all our citizens participate, we cannot advocate for mama Earth,” said Chispa AZ Democracy Director Nicole Morales. “Organizing at the local level and meeting constituents in their own neighborhoods helps break down barriers to voting and ensures communities who are too often left out of the electoral process have their voices heard at the ballot box. All eligible voters should have the opportunity to be part of the democratic process.” “The communities who have historically faced barriers to voting are the same communities who are facing the worst impacts of the climate crisis, pollution, and environmental injustice,” said Hilda Nucete, LCV Senior Director of Civic Engagement. “We’re working in these communities to help ensure every voter in every community, no matter their language, ability, income, or zip code is able to access their fundamental right to vote.” Chispa Arizona and LCV’s nonpartisan civic engagement efforts aim to strengthen community engagement in the electoral process and help ensure more eligible voters can participate in and be equitably represented in our democracy. ### About Chispa Arizona: Chispa Arizona envisions an inclusive and reflective democracy that prioritizes communities’ rights to clean air and water, healthy neighborhoods, and a safe climate for generations to come. While Latinos are among the worst impacted by climate change, we are also some of the most committed to supporting strong government action to curb pollution and protect our environment. Chispa Arizona is organizing in our communities, increasing voter participation, pushing back on polluters, and holding elected officials accountable. We are cultivating the political power that is key to advocating for ambitious and just environmental solutions across our state. For more information, please visit https://chispaaz.org/

For Immediate Release July 10, 2024 Contact: Mika Hyer, mhyer@lcv.org, 940-783-2230 En Español: Elena Gaona, egaona@lcv.org, 202-907-9717 LCV and Chispa Statements On Latest MAGA Attempts to Subvert Voting Rights Washington, D.C.— In response to today’s House vote on the SAVE Act, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) and Chispa issued the following statements: “This anti-voter legislation would make the right to vote harder to exercise for millions of eligible voters while providing no additional security to our election systems,” said LCV Senior Director of Civic Engagement Hilda Nucete. “Every voter in every community, no matter their race, identity, ability, age, or zip code deserves to vote without intimidation or unnecessary  barriers. This bill creates yet another intimidating, confusing, and unnecessary hurdle for eligible voters to exercise their fundamental right. The Senate must reject this baseless, racially motivated, fear-mongering bill and pass crucial and proven voting rights legislation like the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, the Freedom to Vote Act, and statehood for the people of Washington, D.C. to protect voting rights instead of dismantling them.” *** “Our democracy works best when all citizens can participate. Instead, the SAVE Act scapegoats immigrant communities, including in large part Latine communities, and seeks to take away the power of eligible voters,” said Chispa Senior Director Estefany Carrasco-González. “Requiring Americans to provide a certified birth certificate or a passport to register to vote places an unnecessary burden on eligible voters and disproportionately affects low-income citizens, women, the elderly, those with disabilities, and communities of color. Our elections are already secure and we will continue the work to protect all our rights for a healthy democracy, including our ability to have fair representation and to tackle the climate crisis that is affecting our communities directly.” ###