NAACP and Fellow Advocates Sue Alabama Over Extreme Anti-Voter Restrictions and Penalties
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 4, 2024
Contact: Alicia Mercedes, amercedes@naacpnet.org
Montgomery, AL — Today, the NAACP et al, sued Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, Alabama's 42 District Attorneys, and Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen to block Alabama's recently enacted Senate Bill 1 (SB 1). This law directly targets, drastically restricts, and severely penalizes basic nonpartisan civic engagement efforts that enable all Alabamians to access their right to vote.
Janette McCarthy Wallace, NAACP Chief General Secretary of Counsel shared the following statement:
"These continued attempts from extremist politicians to stifle our voices by suppressing our votes are a direct attack on our democracy. The NAACP remains committed to fighting back at the local, state, and national level while utilizing a combined effort of litigation and mobilization to ensure every Black American cast their ballot in November."
The law, among the most restrictive of its kind ever passed, would criminalize most forms of helping voters apply for absentee ballots, with felony penalties ranging up to 20 years in prison. SB 1's cruel and unlawful restrictions harm voters of marginalized communities who need assistance with their absentee ballot applications — as well as nonpartisan civic engagement groups working to help Alabamians participate in the political process.
"Senate Bill 1 is an attempt to take Alabama backwards by violating our basic Constitutional Amendment rights and impeding our freedom of speech," said Bernard Simelton, President of the Alabama State Conference of the NAACP. "The NAACP remains committed to quelling any attempts to restrict our hard-won access to the ballot box. We cannot allow bad actors to revert the progress that our ancestors shed blood, sweat and tears for. The Alabama State Conference of the NAACP will continue to carry the torch, marching into any battle where our rights are under attack."
The NAACP is currently litigating seven other voting rights cases across the nation while working to educate, engage and mobilize millions of Black voters throughout the 2024 election cycle.
For more information on our voting rights advocacy, visit our website.
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About NAACP
The NAACP advocates, agitates, and litigates for the civil rights due to Black America. Our legacy is built on the foundation of grassroots activism by the biggest civil rights pioneers of the 20th century and is sustained by 21st century activists. From classrooms and courtrooms to city halls and Congress, our network of members across the country works to secure the social and political power that will end race-based discrimination. That work is rooted in racial equity, civic engagement, and supportive policies and institutions for all marginalized people. We are committed to a world without racism where Black people enjoy equitable opportunities in thriving communities.
NOTE: The Legal Defense Fund – also referred to as the NAACP-LDF - was founded in 1940 as a part of the NAACP, but now operates as a completely separate entity.