Congressman Cleaver Works to Ensure Missouri’s Voters are Prepared on Election Day

Kansas City, Missouri– On September 25, 2012, Missouri residents joined Congressman Cleaver for a National Voter Registration Day event to make sure all eligible voters are registered and prepared to vote this fall.

The Kansas City event was one of several across the country on the same day and at the same time, hosted by members of the Congressional Black Caucus as part of the "For the People" Voter Protection Initiative, under H. Res. 542. This Initiative brings attention to block the vote efforts, like restrictive voter ID laws, that may impede as many as 5 million people from registering to vote and/or casting a ballot this November.

“Voting is a fundamental right for all American citizens, and these restrictive voting laws threaten to disenfranchise large groups of civic minded voters,” said Congressman Cleaver. “As the author of legislation to expand and protect voting rights for students, I am committed to ensuring that no eligible voter is turned away from the ballot box during early voting and on Election Day.”

At least thirty-four states have introduced laws that would require voters to show photo identification in order to vote, and at least twelve states have introduced laws that would require proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate, to register to vote or to vote.  In Missouri, voter identification legislation was passed by the legislature, but later struck down.

Who:                      Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II, local leaders, and students
What:                    National Voter Registration Day Event
Where:                  Grand Hall of Union Station, 30 W. Pershing Road, Kansas City, Missouri 64108

When: September 25, 2012, from10:00 AM-11:00 AM