AALDEF Voting Rights Trainings

ASIAN AMERICAN VOTING RIGHTS TRAININGS

AALDEF attorneys train 250 Asian American community leaders and organizations in 7 states on voter registration, voters’ rights on Election Day, and proper voter ID requirements

Throughout the summer, the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), a 34-year old national civil rights organization, has provided free legal trainings in multiple cities to assist Asian American community-based organizations in conducting voter registration drives and to prepare for the fall Presidential Elections. 

To date, AALDEF has trained over 250 Asian American community leaders and organizations in Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington, DC.  Attorneys provided legal information under local, state, and federal laws about:

(1) legal responsibilities in conducting voter registration;
(2) voters’ rights on Election Day regarding interpreters, provisional ballots, identification requirements, and remedies to problems; and
(3) legal rules regarding electoral and voter education activities for tax-exempt nonprofit organizations.

In particular, the trainings dispelled many misunderstandings about current voter identification requirements.  The US Supreme Court’s decision in Crawford v. Marion County Election Board and Indiana Democratic Party v. Rokita, which upheld an Indiana law requiring voters to show government-issued photo identification, have confused voters about the proper requirements in their states.  AALDEF had filed an amicus (“friend of the court”) brief in the case detailing how such laws have been misapplied or only applied to Asian American voters.   

Glenn D. Magpantay, AALDEF Staff Attorney, said, “We will monitor the elections in November to ensure that voter ID requirements do not disenfranchise Asian Americans.” 

Training sessions took place in the following locations: Boston, MA; New York, NY; Newark, NJ; Philadelphia, PA; and Washington, DC. 

AALDEF acknowledges the following cosponsors of the trainings: APIA Vote, Asian Community Development Corporation of Boston, Asian Outreach Unit of Greater Boston Legal Services, Asian Pacific American Agenda Coalition (MA), Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center (DC), Chinese Progressive Association (MA), Coalition of Asian Pacific American of Virginia, Duane Morris LLP, Mass VOTE, National Asian American Association of Professionals – DC Chapter, National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, National Korean American Service & Education Consortium, Organization of Chinese Americans, Organization of Chinese Americans – Greater Washington DC Chapter, Organization of Chinese Americans – Northern Virginia Chapter, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, South Asian Americans Leading Together, University of Maryland at College Park Asian American Studies Program, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP.

To request a training, or to volunteer in AALDEF’s poll monitoring efforts in November, contact Bryan Lee, AALDEF Voting Rights Coordinator, at 212.966.5932 or blee@aaldef.org.

The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), founded in 1974, is a national organization that protects and promotes the civil rights of Asian Americans.  By combining litigation, advocacy, education, and organizing, AALDEF works with Asian American communities across the country to secure human rights for all.

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