Hispanic Federation Statement on Voter Suppression Efforts in Florida and Texas

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 7, 2021

Contact:
Jessica Orozco Guttlein
212-233-8955 Ext. 140
jorozco@hispanicfederation.org

Today, Hispanic Federation, one of the nation’s leading organizations dedicated to supporting and empowering Latino communities in the US and Puerto Rico, issued the following statement the voter suppression efforts in Florida and Texas. Hispanic Federation President and CEO, Frankie Miranda said:

“The assault on voting rights continues. This past week, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law a series of measures that make it more difficult to cast ballots for millions of Floridians. Under the false pretense of safeguarding the “sanctity of Florida’s elections,” Gov. DeSantis has enacted laws that make it more difficult to vote by mail, secure absentee ballots, and embolden partisan poll-watchers that, if history is any guide, will systematically seek to intimidate voters at the polls. Not to be outdone by Florida Republicans, GOP leaders in Texas are currently pushing an unprecedented attack on voting rights in the state that may restrict early voting, close polling places in Black and Latino neighborhoods, and limit the ability of county boards of election to proactively mail ballots to voters. While the legislation is currently in conference, there is little doubt that the leadership of the Texas state legislature is gearing up to make voting as difficult as possible.

“In the 2020 general elections and the 2021 Georgia Senate runoffs, we witnessed a historic turnout of Black and Latino voters. Instead of focusing their energies on advancing policies that will attract large segments of this growing and powerful electorate, leaders in the GOP have seemingly turned to voter suppression as a tool to ensure its electoral future. These voter suppression efforts should trouble every American who believes in fairness and the sanctity of our democracy.

“It is time for the federal government to act in defense of voting rights. Hispanic Federation calls once again on the Biden Administration and the Congress to immediately enact the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. These two pieces of legislation will protect voting rights and put an end to the cynical attempts by state legislators to disenfranchise our communities.

“The future of our democracy is at stake and the time to defend it is now.”