FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 15, 2020
Contact: Will Pregman, [email protected], 702.752.0656
Statement on the Nevada Secretary of State’s primary election announcements
LAS VEGAS, NV – In response to a letter by the Nevada Democratic Party, Nevada Secretary of State, Barbara Cegavske issued a rebuttal statement dismissing the need for in-person voting options in the upcoming 2020 primary elections.
Annette Magnus, Executive Director of Battle Born Progress, released the following statement:
“The crisis we face today undoubtedly demands sacrifices from all of us to protect the public health of all Nevadans. However, we are extremely concerned about the disenfranchising effect of Secretary Cegavske’s plan to transition to a vote-by-mail-only system in less than 30 days. In addition to being broadly unfamiliar to voters across the state, credible research shows that votes from communities of color are most likely to go uncounted without adequate options to vote in-person.
The plan produced by the Secretary designates only ONE vote center per county to accommodate voters who plan to vote in person. That’s ridiculous. Given the novelty of this system, the possible displacement of many voters from their previous address caused by the economic impacts of the virus, and the barriers to receiving mail experienced disproportionately by low-income families and communities of color, this plan is just asking for a repeat of the recent Wisconsin fiasco. Allowing huge lines to form outside one remote vote center should dissolve any claim by the Secretary that her decision is in the benefit of our public health.
We would like to see cooperation from the Secretary of State with county election officials and community groups to establish a better plan that provides voters a realistic, accessible, and safe option to vote in person that protects the health of both poll workers and voters alike. We worked hard last year, alongside our community allies and legislative leadership, to increase voting accessibility with bills like A.B. 345, allowing same-day voter registration, fortifying the online voter registration system, and providing county clerks more tools for accommodating the needs of voters. Secretary Cegavske should apply these resources, and act in their spirit to ensure no eligible Nevada voter is left out of the process.”
SPOKESPEOPLE ARE AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH
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About Battle Born Progress: Battle Born Progress, through strategic communication efforts, empowers, engages and mobilizes Nevada voters to build a state where everyone has a fair opportunity to succeed. We support, engage, and mobilize the progressive community through bold leadership, strategic communications, accountability, and education. We are on the cutting edge of new media and are the go-to source for progressive issues and advocacy for traditional media. Learn more at https://battlebornprogress.org/.
