Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.
-- Thomas Jefferson
Our vote is our voice. Seven years after the Florida election debacle and more than five years since President Bush signed into law the Help America Vote Act, Electionline.org reports:
But the public's lingering concerns over electronic voting, partisan disputes over voter ID and other issues continue to plague America's election system.
For more than 30 years, the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation has fought to ensure our voices are heard in the democratic process. On Wednesday, it will hold its 6th annual Voices of the Electorate Democracy Symposium, "Engaging Minorities and New Americans in the Democracy Reform Movement and the 2008 Election Cycle."
The symposium will feature opening remarks by Melanie Campbell, the National Coalition's CEO and Executive Director. Rep. Artur Davis will update election reform and voting rights legislation in the 110th Congress.
I will moderate a roundtable discussion on the changing face of American democracy and strategies for increasing minorities' and new American citizens' civic engagement.
The symposium will be held tomorrow from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm at the U.S. Capitol in Room HC-7. The event is free and open to the public but reservations are required.
To reserve a seat, send an email to Kevin Parker or call 202/659-4929.
A live webcast of the symposium will be available here, starting at 10:00 am ET.