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Sep 22, 2008
NCVCP 7th Annual Voices Of The Electorate Symposium
Election ’08: Still Not Ready & the Impact of the Economic Crisis
The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation (NCBCP) Voices of the Electorate Democracy Reform Project will convene its 7th Annual Symposium, “Election ’08: Still Not Ready & The Impact of the Economic Crisis ” on Tuesday, September 23, 2008, from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p. m., in the Zenger Room of the National Press Club, 529 14th St. NW, 13th Floor, Washington, DC.
Two 60 minute panels will bring together voting rights experts, voter empowerment groups, policy analysts and community-based activists to identify steps that election officials and voters must take to remove barriers to the ballot and ensure that every vote is counted as intended on Election Day.
WHO: Hosted by the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation.
- Remarks: Melanie Campbell, Executive Director and CEO, NCBCP
- Moderator: Faye Anderson, Citizen Journalist, Anderson@Large
Panel One - A Look Back and Lessons Learned
Panelists will look at voters’ experiences at the polls during the 2008 primary season, and how the lessons learned are being used to remove barriers to the ballot and ensure that every vote is counted as intended.
- Lillie Coney, Associate Director, Electronic Privacy Information Center
- James J. Ferguson, Principal, Practical Politics Research Group
- Jenigh Garrett, Assistant Counsel, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc.
- Marcia Johnson-Blanco, Senior Counsel, Voting Rights Project, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
- Lawrence Norden, Counsel, Democracy Program, Brennan Center for Justice
Panel Two - A Look Ahead at the General Election
Panelists will discuss ongoing voter protection efforts, outreach to local election officials, Unity ’08 Voter Empowerment Sundays, Vote First early vote strategies and voter assistance hotlines. Panelists will provide their analysis of the current economic crisis and its potential impact on the 2008 General Election.
- Judith Browne-Dianis, Co-Director, The Advancement Project
- Cecelie Counts, Legislative Representative, AFL-CIO
- Stephanie J. Jones, Executive Director, Policy Institute, National Urban League
- Kemba Smith, Virginia Black Youth Vote!/National Coalition on Black Civic Participation
- Ken Smukler, President and Co-Founder, VoterLink Data Systems
WHERE: National Press Club, Zenger Room 529 14th St. NW, 13th Fl
WHEN: Tuesday, September 23, 2008 TIME: 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p. m.
Contact: The event is free and open to the public. Media should RSVP by Monday, September 22 to edmedia@dogonvillage.com or 818.613.9521.
