The Progressive

NewsWire

A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact:

Shin Inouye, inouye@civilrights.org, 202.869.0398

Count Every Vote to Honor Democracy, Record Turnout

Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement on the 2020 general election:

"In our democracy, every vote counts, and every eligible vote must be counted. We must have faith in this simple notion that is the foundation of our elections.

WASHINGTON

Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement on the 2020 general election:

"In our democracy, every vote counts, and every eligible vote must be counted. We must have faith in this simple notion that is the foundation of our elections.

"We saw a record number of votes by mail, and officials are taking the necessary time to verify ballots, process, and tabulate the results. Minor administrative concerns and legal questions, as we see in most elections, are being resolved. This is our democracy in action. Any candidate claiming victory before the results are certified dishonors the sacred right to vote.

"We applaud the record numbers of resilient voters who turned out to participate in our democracy, even when they faced hours-long lines, missing ballot drop boxes, and other deliberate obstacles to voting. Despite the unique and difficult challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, our democratic process is working. Cooler heads must prevail, and the will of the people must be heard. Elections are too important to demand speed over accuracy."

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the civil and human rights of all persons in the United States. Through advocacy and outreach to targeted constituencies, The Leadership Conference works toward the goal of a more open and just society - an America as good as its ideals.

(202) 466-3311