ACLU of Maryland (ACLU-MD)

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ACLU OF MARYLAND | 3600 CLIPPER MILL RD, SUITE 350
BALTIMORE, MD 21211 | P: 410.889.8555

This is the Web site of the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland and the ACLU Foundation of Maryland. Learn more about the distinction between these two components of the ACLU.

CONTACT US | SEARCH | PRIVACY POLICY

ACLU OF MARYLAND | 3600 CLIPPER MILL RD, SUITE 350 BALTIMORE, MD 21211 | P: 410.889.8555

This is the Web site of the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland and the ACLU Foundation of Maryland. Learn more about the distinction between these two components of the ACLU.

ACLU OF MARYLAND | 3600 CLIPPER MILL RD, SUITE 350
BALTIMORE, MD 21211 | P: 410.889.8555

WHAT: A community forum: “The Prospects and Promises of Electoral Reform in the City of Greenbelt”

WHO: Deborah Jeon, Legal Director, ACLU of Maryland, will discuss the Voting Rights Act and successful electoral reform in Maryland.

Rob Richie, Executive Director of FairVote, will discuss how the choice voting method of proportional representation can increase local representation and enhance voter choice in Greenbelt.

Earl Adams, Jr., 1st Vice President of the Prince George’s County Branch of the NAACP, will discuss the promise of single member districts vs. at-large districts.

BACKGROUND: ACLU of Maryland, on behalf of the Prince George's County NAACP, has offered to collaborate with the City of Greenbelt to make the City’s current at-large municipal election system more fair and inclusive. 2000 Census data reveal that African Americans comprised 41.3 percent of Greenbelt’s overall population, and 37.9 percent of its voting age population. Further, Asians comprised 12.9 percent and Latinos 5.7 percent of the voting age population, giving the City a voting age population that is at least 56.5 percent minority.

This demographic shift reflects a dramatic increase in the City’s racial diversity over the decade from 1990 to 2000. However, the City Council remains an all-white body. In order for City government to keep pace with its changing population, to truly serve its residents, and to meet its obligations under the federal Voting Rights Act, the ACLU and NAACP believe it is appropriate for Greenbelt to consider changing its election system. Our organizations have partnered with FairVote for this forum to outline some options for achieving a more representative election system in Greenbelt.

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Legislative Testimony

Maryland ACLU, FairVote, Prince George’s NAACP Host Forum on Voting Rights and Electoral Reform in the City of Greenbelt
MEDIA ADVISORY FOR:
May 20, 2008

CONTACT:
Meredith Curtis, ACLU of Maryland,
410-889-8555; media@aclu-md.org
Amy Ngai, FairVote, (301) 270-4616; amyn@fairvote.org

WHAT: A community forum: “The Prospects and Promises of Electoral Reform in the City of Greenbelt”

WHO: Deborah Jeon, Legal Director, ACLU of Maryland, will discuss the Voting Rights Act and successful electoral reform in Maryland.

Rob Richie, Executive Director of FairVote, will discuss how the choice voting method of proportional representation can increase local representation and enhance voter choice in Greenbelt.

Earl Adams, Jr., 1st Vice President of the Prince George’s County Branch of the NAACP, will discuss the promise of single member districts vs. at-large districts.

Judith Davis, Mayor of the City of Greenbelt (INVITED)

WHERE: Meeting Room at the Greenbelt Library, 11 Crescent Rd, Greenbelt, MD

WHEN: Tuesday, May 20 at 7 PM

BACKGROUND: ACLU of Maryland, on behalf of the Prince George's County NAACP, has offered to collaborate with the City of Greenbelt to make the City’s current at-large municipal election system more fair and inclusive. 2000 Census data reveal that African Americans comprised 41.3 percent of Greenbelt’s overall population, and 37.9 percent of its voting age population. Further, Asians comprised 12.9 percent and Latinos 5.7 percent of the voting age population, giving the City a voting age population that is at least 56.5 percent minority.

This demographic shift reflects a dramatic increase in the City’s racial diversity over the decade from 1990 to 2000. However, the City Council remains an all-white body. In order for City government to keep pace with its changing population, to truly serve its residents, and to meet its obligations under the federal Voting Rights Act, the ACLU and NAACP believe it is appropriate for Greenbelt to consider changing its election system. Our organizations have partnered with FairVote for this forum to outline some options for achieving a more representative election system in Greenbelt.

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