New Report: Voters of Color Suffer Without Paid Leave

Today, Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG) released its new report indicating that there are still many legal barriers that prevent people from exercising their civic duty, and that those barriers primarily affect Black and Brown voters.  

The report, titled “No Time To Vote: Achieving Racial Equity in Paid Time Off on Election Day”, says that during the 2016, 2018, and 2020 elections, Black and Brown voters waited longer to vote than white voters. In 2016, voters in predominantly Black communities waited 29% longer than voters in predominantly white communities. 

To combat the discriminatory impacts on voters of color, the report offers the recommendation that states require that employees have time to vote without penalty or loss of wages. The report found that while thirty states require employers to allow their employees time off to vote on Election Day, the vast majority of the states that require leave for voting cap the time requirement at one, two, or three hours. These caps are problematic because voters must often stand in line for far longer, forcing them to choose between their income and exercising their right to vote. Additionally, six states require employers to allow leave, but require that the leave is unpaid.

“Making voting accessible and equitable is a racial justice issue. Significant numbers of people continue to vote in person on Election Day, and while our nation has progressed beyond the overt racism of poll taxes and literacy tests, a persistent barrier has been long lines to vote and the so-called ‘time tax,’ which continues to disenfranchise people of color. Our report hopes to shed light on this disparity and suggest viable solutions to make voting fairer for all Americans.”

— Adam Fernandez, L4GG’s Vice President of Policy and Strategic Engagement

“In order to uphold the tenets of our democracy, it needs to work for everyone. To do that, we recommend policy changes that guarantee that all workers will have the necessary amount of time to leave work to vote without penalty or loss of pay. Our suggestions also provide an explicit private right of action to hold employers accountable if they violate the policy. In this way, we hope to see a new day for racial equity in voting, and the strengthening of our democracy.”

— Joe Spielberger, L4GG's Legislative Counsel on Policy and Strategic Engagement

L4GG and Human Rights Organizations Petition IACHR to Direct US to End Title 42

Lawyers For Good Government (L4GG), alongside several other human rights organizations, have filed a petition to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) regarding Title 42.

The petition asks the IACHR order the United States to take urgent steps to protect asylum seekers from the risk of irreparable harm caused by the Title 42 policy, and to implement measures to protect other asylum seekers who are or would be subject to Title 42 expulsions.

You can read the petition here.

"End the War on Black Immigrants!" — L4GG joins the UndocuBlack Network in call to Biden, Pelosi

After the horrific events in Del Rio, Texas, in which hundreds of Haitians seeking safety were rounded up by border agents on horseback using lariats, the UndocuBlack Network issued a letter to President Biden, Vice President Harris, Speaker of the House Pelosi and Majority Leader Schumer to end the war on Black immigrants.

The letter calls for the end of Title 42, as well as support for Haitian immigrants, and investment in a humane and holistic immigration system.

To read the letter, click here.

L4GG Joins over 70 Organizations Urging President Biden to End Title 42

After the news that President Biden would be appealing the Federal Courts decision to end Title 42, Lawyers for Good Government joined over 70 other organizations in a sign-on letter urging President Biden to do the right thing and end Title 42.

L4GG will continue to do everything in our power to end the Biden Administration’s misuse of Title 42 to expel migrants without allowing them to seek asylum in flagrant violation of international and domestic law. Title 42 is immoral, illegal and unnecessary.

Read the letter here.

L4GG - Response to Eviction Crisis

On August 30, 2021, Attorney General Merrick Garland issued a call to action for the legal community, urging that we each step up to help address the looming housing and evictions crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Lawyers for Good Government community of attorneys, law firms, in-house legal departments, and non-profit partners is committed to supporting this effort.

Letter from Attorney General Merrick Garland:

Over three million households are behind on rental payments and could be evicted over the next few months. Renters in the US are disproportionately people of color, and the coming eviction crisis is one that will disproportionately harm underrepresented communities. While the federal government has supplied Emergency Rental Assistance to help keep renters in their homes, only 11 percent of that rental assistance has been used. 

If you are an attorney or law student who would like to learn more about opportunities to help keep families in their homes, please fill out this very brief form to sign up for SMS and email alerts from L4GG:

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“The legal profession is well positioned to provide support for tenants, landlords, and courts during this crisis. Promoting access to justice to ensure that our justice system delivers outcomes that are fair and accessible to all, irrespective of wealth or status, is one of the highest ideals of the legal profession. ”

— Attorney General Merrick Garland

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