Voting is a fundamental right of our democracy. The decisions made in city halls, state legislatures, the United States Congress and every other level of government affect the lives of all South Dakotans.
But voting loses its impact when people don’t participate.
While South Dakota doesn’t have the extreme voting laws that have disenfranchised voters around the country, it’s important to be prepared and make your plan for voting – either by absentee ballot or in person on Election Day.
That’s why the ACLU of South Dakota is hosting a Voting Rights Happy Hour at Home with the voteOUT campaign, an effort to encourage people to reconnect with their power as registered voters and move equality forward.
This virtual event will help attendees better understand voting absentee and the rights guaranteed to LGBTQ+ and Two Spirit South Dakota voters. Speakers will include Adam Jorgensen from the ACLU of South Dakota, Boots Among Trees from Sioux Falls Pride and Samson Mettler from the Transformation Project.
“Voting is paramount to a healthy democracy, but it’s only effective if we take the time to make our voices heard at the ballot box or absentee,” Jorgensen said. “Amid the COVID-19 crisis, voting absentee may be the safest option for many this election cycle. We want to ensure everyone is prepared, knows their rights, and knows what to do to make sure their voices are heard on or before Election Day.”
The American Civil Liberties Union has a long history of helping voters understand and exercise their voting rights. The ACLU has been at the forefront of the fight against voter suppression as well as the movement to allow new voter access and will continue to do so after today’s primary election and beyond.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Voting Rights Happy Hour at Home
WHEN: 5 p.m. CT / 4 p.m. MT Thursday, Aug. 20
WHERE: Zoom (Link will be sent after registration) or ACLU of South Dakota Facebook Live
TO REGISTER: Go to www.aclusd.org/events
About the ACLU of South Dakota
The American Civil Liberties Union of South Dakota is a non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of civil liberties and civil rights. The ACLU of South Dakota is part of a three-state chapter that also includes North Dakota and Wyoming. The team in South Dakota is supported by staff in those states.
The ACLU believes freedoms of press, speech, assembly, and religion, and the rights to due process, equal protection and privacy, are fundamental to a free people. In addition, the ACLU seeks to advance constitutional protections for groups traditionally denied their rights, including people of color, women, and the LGBTQ+ and Two Spirit communities. The ACLU of South Dakota carries out its work through selective litigation, lobbying at the state and local level, and through public education and awareness of what the Bill of Rights means for the people of South Dakota.
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