Episode 147: Protect and Deliver Our Vote
One of the most important ways we have to get our voices heard is through our vote. Barriers to our ability to vote through restrictive ID laws and the like, are being erected every day. L. Joy brings Leigh Chapman to the front of the class on this episode to discuss protecting our vote and share the work Deliver My Vote is doing now to protect it.
Our Guest
Leigh M. Chapman is the Executive Director at Deliver My Vote. Previously, Leigh was Senior Director of the Voting Rights Program at The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. She has experience advancing democracy issues for nonprofit organizations, state government, and a political organization.
Prior to joining The Leadership Conference, Leigh was Senior Policy Advisor at Let America Vote, where she advised the organization on election law and policy issues at the state and federal levels.
Leigh was appointed Director of Policy for the Pennsylvania Department of State by Governor Tom Wolf in 2015. At the Pennsylvania Department of State, she managed the Department’s policy and regulatory development process in coordination with the Governor’s Office of Policy in the program areas of charities, corporations, elections and professional licensure.
Leigh began her voting rights career at Advancement Project where she served as a Staff Attorney in the Voter Protection Program and supported organizations on the ground in Florida, Nevada, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin. She was counsel in Jones v. Deininger, a lawsuit challenging Wisconsin’s restrictive photo ID law under the Voting Rights Act.
Ms. Chapman graduated from the University of Virginia earning a B.A. in American Studies and History and received her J.D. from Howard University School of Law.
Homework: Four things you can do NOW to protect your vote
Check your voter registration early and OFTEN
Sign up to vote by mail NOW (if you want to be able to vote by mail)
Vote in EVERY election (from President to Dog Catcher)
Discuss the threats to the ability to vote with your family, friends and circles. Make sure they are informed on the issues.
