Former U.S. Congressman and Why Tuesday? honorary co-chair Jack Kemp died Saturday at his home in Bethesda, Maryland. I ran into Kemp some time last year on flight to New York City from Los Angeles that was diverted to Pittsburgh because of low fuel. I even tweeted about it and I’m searching through the archives to find it. We briefly talked about Why Tuesday? and he asked that I send my best to the rest of the team. Then we were back on our way.

When our group first launched in 2005 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, I wasn’t a part of our team yet. In fact, there were only a small group of folks that carried the Why Tuesday? banner at that time, and they were our co-founders William B. Wachtel, Ambassador Andrew Young, and Norman J. Ornstein. Joining them as honorary co-chairs were former U.S. Senator Bill Bradley, the Democrat, and Jack Kemp, the Republican. (more…)

Posted in Election Reform, Friends of WT?, Jack Kemp, Passings, WT? Advisory Board | Comments Off

As we’ve discussed here before, the struggle to pass the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is a moment in American history that is near and dear to our hearts. And in the spirit of the Voting Rights Act the Why Tuesday? team strives to find solutions to increase voter turnout and participation in elections.

Some of the same rank-and-file that participated in the fight for Civil Rights, like Ambassador Andrew Young and our founder Bill Wachtel, are the Why Tuesday? board members that push us every day to keep on in the war on low voter turnout.

Today the New York Times takes a look at an effort in Texas to repeal a specific section of the Voting Rights Act, in the name of progress, and decides that the argument being presented is flawed and counterproductive.

Some people claim that Barack Obama’s election has ushered in a “postracial” America, but the truth is that race, and racial discrimination, are still very much with us. The Supreme Court should keep this reality in mind when it considers a challenge to an important part of the Voting Rights Act that it recently agreed to hear. The act is constitutional — and clearly still needed.

Section 5, often called the heart of the Voting Rights Act, requires some states and smaller jurisdictions to “preclear” new voting rules with the Justice Department or a federal court. When they do, they have to show that the proposed change does not have the purpose or effect of discriminating against minority voters.

[snip]

In last fall’s election, despite his strong national margin of victory — and hefty campaign chest — Mr. Obama got only about one in five white votes in the Southern states wholly or partly covered by Section 5. And there is every reason to believe that minority voters will continue to face obstacles at the polls.

If Section 5 is struck down, states and localities would have far more freedom to erect barriers for minority voters — and there is little doubt that some would do just that. We have not arrived at the day when special protections like the Voting Rights Act are not needed.

We’ll keep on top of this story. To read the complete New York Times editorial, click here.

For more on our connection to the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and to learn more about what we do, click here. Still don’t know why we vote on Tuesday? Here’s the answer.

Posted in Civil Rights, Election 2008, Election Reform, New York Times, Voting Rights Act, WT? Advisory Board | Comments Off

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – As with so many people across the globe, today is very near and dear to Why Tuesday?’s heart. This organization was founded in the spirit of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by William B. Wachtel whose father, Harry, was a close friend and advisor Dr. King. So today, we also salute the accomplishments of Why Tuesday? Board members Andrew Young and Martin Luther King, III. (more…)

Posted in Barack Obama, Civil Rights, D.C., Election Reform, Election administration, Martin Luther King, Jr., President Obama, WT? Advisory Board | 1 Comment »