Making Our Votes Count (with Sherrilyn Ifill)

Baratunde speaks with Sherrilyn Ifill, the President and Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund about the very long history of voter suppression, why it still exists (hint: white supremacy and racism), and the current tactics being deployed for the 2020 election. Show Notes + Links We are grateful to Sherrilyn Ifill for joining us.  Follow her at @Sifill_LDF and @NAACP_LDF on Twitter. You can learn more about the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund at https://www.naacpldf.org/. We will post this episode, a transcript, show notes and more at howtocitizen.com. Please show your support for the show in the form of a review and rating. It makes a huge difference with the algorithmic overlords! HERE IS WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW. ACTIONS FOR THIS EPISODE.  INTERNAL ACTIONS Become educated on the systems of oppression so you know the roots and how to fight back. Two good books to start with for a comprehensive take.  Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram X Kendi Crusade for Justice: The Autobiography of Ida B Wells You can buy these books and support local bookstores using our show’s bookshop.org link https://bookshop.org/shop/howtocitizen  Understand the Voting Rights Act and how the Shelby decision changed everything.  https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/07/how-shelby-county-broke-america/564707/ Make your voting plan. Visit www.morethanavote.org to make your voting plan. This is the organization that LeBron James helped start, and they’ve partnered with a number of groups including Sherrilyn and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.  Also visit https://votesaveamerica.com/plan/ the newly released tool from Vote Save America to get ready with a sample ballot for your area to plan your voting so you can be EFFICIENT at the voting booth.  EXTERNAL ACTIONS Find out the EXACT requirements of mail-in or absentee ballots in your state and share them so every vote is counted. The requirements and directions for voting by mail differ by state. Some require signatures by a witness on the outside