Colorado Governor Jared Polis has signed the Colorado Voting Rights Act (COVRA), enhancing voting protections against discrimination. The act aims to support over 150,000 eligible voters from marginalized communities, particularly Black Coloradans. It includes provisions for multilingual ballot access, a transparent statewide electoral database, and protections for marginalized groups, including LGBTQ and disabled voters. Advocates believe this legislation is crucial, especially amid concerns regarding the erosion of voting rights at the federal level. State officials emphasize that voting rights are fundamental and must be actively defended.
"Governor Polis and the Colorado legislature have made clear that they are committed to defending voters from discrimination," Janai S. Nelson, Legal Defense Fund (LDF) president and director-counsel, said in a statement.
"Generations of brave activists, women, and people of color have fought for the right to vote - and now, it's our turn," Democratic State Sen. Julie Gonzales, one of the sponsors of the bill, said in a statement.
COVRA will safeguard the right to vote for more than 150,000 eligible Black Coloradans and other communities of color by going after racial vote dilution and voter suppression, according to the LDF.
The legislation will also expand access to multilingual ballots, enhance transparency by creating a publicly accessible statewide database with key demographic and electoral information.
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