Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Urges State Officials to Extend Voter Registration Deadlines and Early Voting Opportunities in Wake of Hurricane Matthew

Washington, D.C., October 7, 2016 – As states brace for the impact of Hurricane
Matthew, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law continues to focus on
ensuring that all voters have access to the ballot during the 2016 election cycle.

“Officials in states that have imposed mandatory evacuation orders as a result of
Hurricane Matthew must take action to relax registration deadlines and early voting
rules to ensure that all voters and would-be voters are able to participate this
election cycle,” said Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the
Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. “Hurricane Matthew comes at a
critical moment in the election season with registration deadlines looming in a
number of impacted states. Evacuation orders ensure public safety but make it more
difficult to register and vote. Our experience during Hurricane Katrina and
Hurricane Sandy make clear that natural disasters stand to disrupt our electoral
process, and action must be taken to safeguard minority voting rights.”

Given that many of the counties impacted by Hurricane Matthew have significant
numbers of African American, Latino and other minority voters, it is important that
election officials take action to ensure compliance with the Voting Rights Act.

About the Lawyers’ Committee
The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (Lawyers’ Committee), a
nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, was formed in 1963 at the request of President
John F. Kennedy to involve the private bar in providing legal services to address
racial discrimination. Formed over 50 years ago, we continue our quest of “Moving
America Toward Justice.” The principal mission of the Lawyers’ Committee is to
secure, through the rule of law, equal justice under law, particularly in the areas
of fair housing and community development; employment; voting; education;
environmental justice; and criminal justice. For more information about the
Lawyers’ Committee, visit www.lawyerscommittee.org
(http://www.lawyerscommittee.org/) .