Leaders In Action - Rep. Ellison and Sen. Raskin

One of the most important issues discussed by the new members of our 21st Century Leaders In Action program was the importance of defending our constitutionally guaranteed right to vote. Congressman Keith Ellison of Minnesota and Maryland State Senator Jamie Raskin have been particularly dedicated to protecting civil rights and encouraging voter participation since they were elected in 2006.

Congressman Keith Ellison (MN-5) was fired-up when he took the stage and immediately expressed his frustration with the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold Indiana's voter ID law. He identified the photo ID requirement for what it is: an attempt by Republicans to impose a back-door poll tax to suppress the vote amongst minorities, the elderly and the poor. Republicans claim that the law is intended to prevent voter fraud, but even the Supreme Court acknowledged that there are no reported cases of voter impersonation in Indiana’s entire history and the State has never prosecuted anyone for impersonation fraud. As Congressman Ellison rightly noted, “The only fraud going on is when they try to defraud legitimate voters, and trick them out of their right to vote through deceptive processes … there is no impostor voting.”


More importantly, Congressman Ellison went on to stress the need for progressives to come together to oppose this Jim Crow era law and others like it. “I think that [the Supreme Court’s] decision must be viewed as a powerful shot across the bow, a wakeup call for us. Let’s get together and rededicate ourselves, dig-in and fight back.” Thankfully, strong progressives like Keith Ellison are digging-in and fighting back to protect the rights of our most vulnerable citizens and communities. Recently Congressman Ellison introduced a bill that would ban photo ID requirements to vote and just yesterday he sponsored legislation encouraging voter participation by allowing citizens to register on election day.

Maryland State Senator Jamie Raskin (District 20) has also been an amazing champion of voter and civil rights. In just 16 months in office the Senator has already passed several important electoral reforms. Last April he sponsored and passed a law making Maryland the first state in the nation to commit to an interstate compact to cast all the State’s Electoral College votes to the winner of the national popular vote (thereby making every American’s vote count in the Presidential election). More recently, Senator Raskin ushered through a bill that allows 17 year olds in Maryland to vote in the primary election, if they will turn 18 before the general election. These kinds of reforms are essential to improving our democracy and engaging every voter, most especially young people.


I can’t think of two individuals more deserving of being honored as 21st Century Leaders in Action than Congressman Ellison and Senator Raskin. They have consistently stood up for the rights of the American people and fought to protect our constitution. They demonstrate why we do what we do at 21st Century Democrats: elect progressives leaders who will stick with their convictions and create public policy that builds a better America.