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Press Release
NARAL Pro-Choice California Responds to Governor Newsom’s Executive Order to Secure Voting Access for Disenfranchised Communities Amid Pandemic
For Immediate Release: June 3, 2020
Contact: [email protected]
NARAL Pro-Choice California Responds to Governor Newsom’s Executive Order to Secure Voting Access for Disenfranchised Communities Amid Pandemic
Governor Gavin Newsom today issued an Executive Order to secure voting access for historically-disenfranchised communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The EO follows the introduction of AB 860 (Berman) and SB 423 (Umberg), and ongoing efforts by progressive advocacy groups to prioritize voter access and safety amid the ongoing public health crisis. The Executive Order comes on the heels of AB 860 advancing out of the critical Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee on a 4-1 vote.
NARAL Pro-Choice California Director Shannon Hovis issued the following statement in response:
“Amid such a pivotal reckoning in our nation’s history, the importance of Governor Newsom’s Executive Order cannot be overstated. Not only have communities of color been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, but Black and brown voters also continue to be systematically disenfranchised in states across the country.
As one of the most racially-diverse states in the U.S., California has both an opportunity and a moral responsibility to set a national standard for ensuring that the voices — and votes — of people of color are heard and counted in the 2020 election. We applaud Governor Newsom for taking this critical first step for balancing the scales of justice in California and protecting the fundamental freedoms of our most vulnerable communities.”