Leigh Chapman: Fighting for The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and more Artwork

Voting Now: Turning Rights into Reality

Our podcast is made by lawyers, for everyone. We tackle the sticky questions about democracy through the lens of voting access. Our guests include community leaders, activists, scholars, and students who have agreed to share their insight on the heroes of our past, the inequities that persist, and the movements inviting your participation.

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Voting Now: Turning Rights into Reality

Leigh Chapman: Fighting for The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and more

February 15, 2021 • Oregon Historical Society | Oregon Federal Bar Association • Season 2 • Episode 5

While the 2020 Presidential Election saw an unprecedented voter turnout, the fight to end voter suppression and discrimination rages on.

We’re joined by Leigh Chapman, Senior Director of the Voting Rights Program at The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, to discuss today’s barriers to the ballot box, legislative efforts combating them such as the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act(HR4), and the For People Act Act (HR1). Chapman and our host (Janice Hebert) discuss the pros and cons of a decentralized voting system and why The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is pushing the federal government to make more uniform, national standards when it comes to voting. Chapman also discussed her Beyoncé connection.

As Leigh put it, “our democracy works best when more people can participate.”