HomeMy WebLinkAbout21-20 Voter Suppression Resolution�TR�� City of South Bead
Common Council
441 County -City Building ■ 227 W. Jefferson Blvd
South Bend, Indiana 46601
Karen L. White
President
Sharon L. McBride
Vice -President
Sheila Niezgodski
Chairperson, Committee
of the Whole
Canneth Lee
First District
Henry Davis, Jr.
Second District
(574) 235-9321
Fax (574) 235-9173
TDD (574) 235-5567
http://www.southbendin.gov
in Clerk's Office
South Bend Common Council APR J f ZQZI
41h Floor, County -City Building DAWN M. JONES
South Bend, IN 46601 CITY CLERK, SOUTH BEND, IN
Re: A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, CONDEMNING ANY ACTIONS OF
STATE OR FEDERAL LEGISLATORS THAT HAVE THE INTENT,
EFFECT OR APPEARANCE OF SUPPRESSING THE RIGHT TO
VOTE OF ANY ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL AMERICAN CITIZEN OR
GROUP OF AMERICAN CITIZENS
Sharon L. McBride
Dear Council Members:
Third District
As you all know, the news cycles are currently filled with stories about
Troy Warner
members of legislatures, both state and federal, either passing laws, or
Fourth District
attempting to pass laws, that have the effect of limiting or restricting access
Eli Was
to the right to vote. As elected officials, we should be appalled at the idea of
Fifth District
making it more difficult for eligible voters to exercise their Constitutional
rights.
Sheila Niezgodski
Sixth District
This Resolution expresses this Council's condemnation of any actions by legislators
that have the intent, effect, or appearance of suppressing any eligible voter's right to
Karen White
vote. The Resolution briefly traces the history of such actions from the enactment of
At Largee
the 15' Amendment in 1870, through Jim Crow laws, through the Voting Rights
Rachel Tomas Morgan
Act of 1965, through the United States Supreme Court decision in Shelby County v.
At Large
Holder which, despite acknowledging that "voting discrimination still exists; no one
doubts that", struck down parts of the Voting Rights Act, through today's headlines.
Lori K. Hamann
At Large
This Resolution also directs the City Clerk to mail a copy of the Resolution to
Indiana's two federal Senators and our district Congresswoman and to the local
representatives in the Indiana General Assembly.
Several community organizations have already expressed support for this
Resolution. They include: La Casa de Amistad, Black Lives Matter, Fates in
Indiana, Michiana Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression and the Sunrise
Movement of South Bend.
City of South Bend
La FEACE Common Council
441 County -City Building • 227 W. Jefferson Blvd
in �965 South Bend, Indiana 46601
(574) 235-9321
Fax (574) 235-9173
TDD (574) 235-5567
http://www.southbendin.gov
We ask that this resolution be assigned to the Community Relations Committee for consideration at its
April 12, 2021 meeting and presented to the full Council for passage at its meeting on the same date.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely yours,
Lori K. Hamann., South Bend Common
Council at Large
Henry Davis, Jr., South Bend Common
Council, Second District
Karen L. White, President, South Bend
Common Council
Sharon McBride Vice -President, South
Bend Common Council
LFiledk's Office
BILL NO.21-20 2021RESOLUTION NO. M. JONES
', BIrNp, IN
A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA,
CONDEMNING ANY ACTIONS OF STATE OR FEDERAL LEGISLATORS THAT HAVE THE INTENT,
EFFECT OR APPEARANCE OF SUPPRESSING THE RIGHT TO VOTE OF ANY ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL
AMERICAN CITIZEN OR GROUP OF AMERICAN CITIZENS
Whereas, the right to vote is a fundamental right of every American citizen and the foundation of a
vibrant democracy; and
Whereas, barriers to voting should be dismantled rather than constructed and every eligible voter should
be able to cast their vote and have it counted; and
Whereas, the ratification of the 15th Amendment in 1870 affirms that voting rights cannot be denied to
citizens based on race; and
Whereas, despite this Constitutional Amendment, post -Reconstruction Jim Crow laws severely
restricted minority voting rights, particularly those of African Americans; and
Whereas, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 contributed to a significant increase in voter registration and
participation by African Americans and other minorities; and
Whereas, the Supreme Court's 2013 decision in Shelby County v. Holder, 570 U.S. 529, 536 (2013),
struck down section 4(b) of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, but specifically recognized that "voting
discrimination still exists; no one doubts that"; and
Whereas, following the Shelby County decision, at least 14 States added additional voting restrictions
for the first time in a Presidential election in time for the 2016 contest; and
Whereas, there were 22% fewer polling places nationally between the 2012 to the 2020 election; and
Whereas, it is reported that currently at least 47 states across the country have enacted, or are
considering, new laws that restrict access to voting, including laws requiring certain forms of ID to vote, laws
restricting voter registration and laws limiting early voting; and
Whereas, one state has gone so far as to criminalize provision of food and water to voters waiting in
long lines to vote; and
Whereas, voter ID laws, restrictions on voter registration, purging of voter rolls, and more restrictions
on early voting are the latest tactics used to suppress voting by historically disenfranchised groups, including
people of color, the elderly, young voters, and people with disabilities; and
Whereas, these laws can impose additional costs on states at a time when state funds are needed to
support education, social services and other important priorities: and
Whereas, up to 11 % of Americans lack government -issued IDs, and up to 7% lack official documents
proving their citizenship; and
Whereas, of the estimated 1 I percent of American citizens among who lack government -issued photo
identification, a disproportionate number are low-income, elderly, or people of color; and
Whereas, many voting -eligible, low-income Latino voters are naturalized United States citizens who
lack proof of citizenship and cannot afford a Certificate of Citizenship or a Replacement Certificate of
Naturalization, which cost $1,170 and $555, respectively; and
Whereas, insufficient language assistance at polling places could possibly threaten eligible Latino voter
turnout in future Presidential elections.
Whereas, proponents of voter suppression laws have failed to show that voter fraud is a problem
anywhere in the country while proven facts establish the contrary, that voter fraud is exceedingly rare; and
Whereas, a broad coalition of top government and industry officials declared the Nov. 3, 2020 voting
"the most secure in American history"; and
Whereas, , the American electorate is increasingly diverse; and
Whereas, the American people have demonstrated a desire to participate fully in the electoral process;
Now, Therefore, be it resolved, by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana, as
follows:
Section I. The South Bend Common Council hereby condemns any actions of state or federal
legislators that have the intent, effect or appearance of suppressing the right to vote of any eligible
individual American citizen or group of American citizens.
Section II. The South Bend Common Council instead urges state and federal legislators to make it a
priority to guarantee that all eligible Americans citizens have both the opportunity and access to their
Constitutional right to vote.
Section III. The Common Council encourages the citizens of South Bend to speak up and let their state
and federal legislators know that a democracy depends on the exercise of the right to vote, not the suppression
of the right to vote.
Section IV. The City Clerk is directed to mail a copy of this Resolution to Senators Todd Young and
Mike Braun, Congresswoman Jackie Walorski, Indiana State Senate members Ryan Mishler, David Niezgodski,
Linda Rogers, Indiana House of Representatives members Dale DeVon, B. Maureen Bauer, Jake Teshka, Ryan
Dvorak, Jack Jordan, and Timothy Wesco.
Karen L. White, Council President
South Bend Common Council