Clyde invited to White House for Voting Rights Act event
State Rep. Kathleen Clyde (D-Kent) was invited to and will attend the 50th Anniversary celebration of the Voting Rights Act at the White House today.
Rep. Clyde will join President Obama and key leaders from around the country in marking the historic signing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The White House event will also call for the renewing of the Voting Rights Act in order to combat attacks on voting rights in states like Ohio that have sought to limit access to the polls.
“I am honored to be asked to participate in this White House event,” said Clyde. “Voting is our most fundamental right, and we must do all we can at the local, state, and federal levels to protect people’s access to the polls.”
August 6, 2015 marks the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, a historic piece of civil rights legislation that upholds one of the most crucial pillars of our democracy. Since 1965, the Voting Rights Act has guaranteed all Americans – regardless of race – the constitutional right to vote without unfair barriers. The legislation continues to be essential in protecting historically disenfranchised groups from unfair barriers that seek to suppress civic participation.
Rep. Clyde is widely recognized as a leading voting rights advocate. As a member of the Ohio legislature, she has successfully led efforts to stop attacks on student voting rights, implementation of a strict photo voter ID law, and elimination of the busiest three days of early voting. The Kent lawmaker is the ranking minority member in the Ohio House on the committee that hears voting-related proposals and has introduced pro-voter legislation, such as House Bill 181, that would establish automatic voter registration in Ohio.
Rep. Clyde represents the 75th Ohio House District, serving Kent, Ravenna, Streetsboro and central and southern Portage County.