SPLC Announces $30 Million To Help Register Southern Voters Of Color
The Southern Poverty Law Center says it will make $30 million in grants available to nonprofit groups in five Southern states to help register and mobilize voters of color.
"The United States has a long history of denying voting rights to its citizens, especially black and brown people, returning citizens and young people," said SPLC president Margaret Huang.
A spokesman said the SPLC had been planning the effort for a while, but widespread voting problems during the pandemic and recent protests against police violence have underscored what the group calls the need for such a campaign.
The pandemic has also stalled most voter registration drives, which are usually geared to attract the kinds of voters the Southern Poverty Law Center is trying to help — young people and minorities.
There are numerous groups working in the five states on voting rights and outreach efforts already, but this money will certainly provide a substantial boost at a time when organizers' funding has been hurt by the pandemic and resulting economic downturn.
