Override Governor Hogan's veto.
The Maryland House of Delegates voted to override Governor Hogan's veto last month. This Friday the State Senate will decide if they will follow suit and expand the freedom to vote for 40,000 Marylanders.
Many state senators have already committed to vote to override so let's make sure to thank them and let them know we'll be watching!
Last June, we sent you the message below to let you know about Governor Hogan's unfortunate veto of HB980 which, if passed, will allow people to vote immediately upon release from prison — 65% of voters who are currently disenfranchised because of past infractions are Black.
Since then, our allies on the ground in Annapolis have been working hard to make sure we get the needed votes. Allies like Perry Hopkins, one of the country’s most dedicated voting rights leaders, who is among the 1 in 13 Black people denied the right to vote nationwide because of past criminal convictions. As an organizer with Communities United in Baltimore, he has been a driving force behind the historic Unlock the Vote campaign in Maryland.
Take a moment to stand with Perry Hopkins and let your state senator know you want them to Unlock the Vote!
http://act.colorofchange.org/sign/UnlockTheVoteMD/?t=2&akid=5339.196673.e9aII7
Thanks and peace,
Johnny, Rashad, Arisha, Hope, and the entire ColorOfChange team
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You have a chance to restore voting rights for nearly 39,000 in Maryland.
Governor Hogan vetoed a bill that would restore voting rights for nearly 40,000 people.
http://act.colorofchange.org/sign/UnlockTheVoteMD/?t=3&akid=5339.196673.e9aII7
Demand that your state legislator overturn Governor Hogan's voting rights veto!
http://act.colorofchange.org/sign/UnlockTheVoteMD/?t=4&akid=5339.196673.e9aII7
Dear Ellen,
While you were getting ready to begin your plans for Memorial Day weekend, Governor Hogan took the coward’s way out and vetoed House Bill 980 that would have granted the right to vote to approximately 40,000 Marylanders. He didn't publicize the veto. He just posted to his website late Friday evening hoping that no one would notice.1
He failed. We noticed and we know that you did too. There will be a veto override vote when the new legislative session begins in January 2016.
To ensure that legislators prioritize overturning Governor Hogan’s veto, we need to make sure to let them know right now that we'll be watching. Will you join us in demanding that your legislator vote to overturn the veto?
In vetoing the bill, Governor Hogan claimed that existing legislation “achieves the proper balance between the repayment of obligations to society for a felony conviction and the restoration of the various restricted rights.”
But when 65% of voters who are disenfranchised because of past infractions are Black and when Freddie Gray’s neighborhood is the most disenfranchised in the entire state — the word “balance” should never be uttered. We cannot and will not allow this to stand!
Can you take a second to demand that your legislator overturn Governor Hogan's veto?
Over the next few months, legislators will be getting pressure from all directions about 2016 legislative priorities. A right-wing group in the state is already pushing members of the General Assembly to sustain the veto. To override, we need to convince 60% of legislators to be on the right side of history. In the House of Delegates we need 85 votes to override but received just 82 when it went to the floor. There were a few delegates who missed the vote and we must make sure they know we need them on our side for the override.
We'll keep in touch with them through the fall and are asking that you stay with us until we have made Maryland a symbol for what is possible. In the mean time, we need to let the legislature know that we have not forgotten the thousands of Marylanders who are still being denied the ability to vote. 2
YES-I'll stand up to defend voting rights in Maryland!
Thanks and peace,
Arisha, Rashad, Hope, Johnny, Brandon and the entire ColorOfChange.org team
References
1. "Maryland governor vetoes felon voting rights bill," 5-22-15
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/4841?t=9&akid=5339.196673.e9aII7
2. "Hogan vetoes bill allowing felons to vote sooner," 5-22-15
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/4842?t=11&akid=5339.196673.e9aII7
3. "General Assembly Legislative Sessions 2016,"
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/4843?t=13&akid=5339.196673.e9aII7
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ColorOfChange is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
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