We’re less than a week away from the general election! One of the most important issues on the ballot in Alabama is the Constitution of Alabama of 2022. This recompilation of the current constitution would clean up and consolidate the document and delete racist language and illegal provisions.
In a new video, Arise policy analyst Mike Nicholson explains the importance of this ballot measure to remove racist language from Alabama’s constitution. Watch the video below for more on why Alabama Arise urges a “Yes” vote on the recompiled state constitution on Nov. 8, 2022. And read Mike’s blog post for even more information.
Alabama Arise is proud to have joined with groups across the state as partners in the Hunger Free Alabama coalition. Our goal is bold and essential: to prevent and eliminate hunger and malnutrition in Alabama through advocacy for better public policies.
In our new video, coalition members Drew Glover and Celsa Allende Stallworth discuss Hunger Free Alabama’s work and the vision that drives it. Visit hungerfreealabama.org to learn how you can join in advocating for change!
Good public policy is vital in the fight against poverty, and U.S. Census data released last month demonstrates its importance. The 2021 Child Tax Credit (CTC) expansion is uplifting proof of how better policies can reduce poverty and ease suffering. And Congress needs to renew this expansion when it returns to Washington, D.C., after the general election.
Many of the people-first policies in the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) swiftly combated economic insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic. And the CTC expansion was the most resounding success. It heavily contributed to a major decline in child poverty rates nationwide, with the Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM) for children dropping by nearly half, falling from nearly 10% to about 5%.
ARPA’s one-year CTC expansion increased the maximum credit for children under age 6 to $3,600, and for all other children to $3,000. It made the full CTC available to children living in families with low or no earnings. And it extended the credit to 17-year-olds, who previously were ineligible. Congress so far has failed to renew the expansion for 2022, but lawmakers should revisit that decision later this year.
The SPM differs from the official poverty measure in that it provides a fuller, more realistic understanding of economic insecurity. The SPM includes the effects of non-cash benefits like housing subsidies and the CTC. And the data shows the CTC expansion alone kept more than 5 million Americans above the poverty line.
CTC expansion reduced racial disparities
Importantly, this impact was especially significant for people of color. Hispanic children saw a dramatic nationwide reduction in poverty, with SPM rates falling from about 15% in 2020 to 8.4% in 2021. SPM rates for Black children saw similar improvement, falling from 18% to 8% during the same period.
Black and Hispanic children are still more likely to experience poverty than white children, but the expanded CTC shows the power of public policy to reduce racial disparities, promote broadly shared prosperity and create a more economically equitable society. The Census Bureau graph below demonstrates the expanded CTC’s dramatic effect on child SPM rates by race.
While the CTC expansion isn’t yet permanent, its impact was clear, immediate and overwhelmingly positive. The expansion’s benefits speak volumes for the power of strong, deliberate public policy to reduce economic insecurity and racial disparities.
People-first public policy works. Just ask the 5.3 million Americans kept out of poverty by the expanded Child Tax Credit. It’s time for Congress to step up to the plate and make the CTC expansion permanent.
The 2022 general election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 8 – less than three weeks from today. Alabamians will vote on a range of local, state and federal offices, including the governor, state legislators, a U.S. Senate seat and U.S. House members. Voters also will decide on a proposed recompilation of the state constitution and 10 proposed statewide constitutional amendments.
Are you registered to vote? Have you made a plan to vote in this year’s general election? Alabama Arise has information below about how to register and how voters can cast a ballot. We share resources that could help if you face barriers to voting. And we explain why we urge Alabamians to vote YES on the recompiled state constitution.
What you need to know about voter registration
Alabama’s voter registration deadline for the 2022 general election is Monday, Oct. 24. That is the deadline both for new voters to register and for current voters to update their voting information if they have moved to another location within Alabama.
People who have faced domestic violence, or guardians of people who have faced domestic violence, may submit a form to protect their residential and mailing addresses from appearing on the public list of registered voters. Download that form here (opens as a PDF).
Alabamians are not officially registered to vote until their county board of registrars reviews and approves their application.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day (Nov. 8). If you’re a registered voter in line by 7 p.m., stay in line! You’ll be allowed to vote.
The deadline to request an absentee ballot for the 2022 general election is Tuesday, Nov. 1. The completed absentee ballot must arrive at the election manager’s office by no later than the close of business on Monday, Nov. 7 (if hand-delivered) or by noon on Tuesday, Nov. 8 (if returned by mail). Learn more about absentee voting here.
Voters may vote for whomever they wish in the general election, regardless of which primary (if any) they participated in earlier this year.
If you face any intimidation, threats or other barriers to voting, trained volunteers are ready to help. You can call the nonpartisan Election Protection hotlines here:
“Alabama Arise is committed to recognizing, teaching about and repairing the damage that state lawmakers perpetrated for generations through codifying racism and racist practices. Racist language and the harmful provisions flowing from it have no place in our state’s most important legal document. That is why we urge Alabamians to vote ‘Yes’ on the recompiled state constitution on Nov. 8, 2022.
“Examples of deleted racist language [in the recompilation] include references to separate schools for Black and white children and prohibition of interracial marriages. The recompilation also strengthens Alabama’s prohibition of slavery by removing language that allows involuntary servitude ‘for the punishment of crime.’
“Alabama voters will decide whether to authorize those changes by adopting the recompiled state constitution. Arise recommends voting ‘Yes’ on the recompilation, which will appear on the ballot as the Constitution of Alabama of 2022.”
As I reflect on our 2022 Annual Meeting and dive into planning for our 2023 agenda, I simply want to say thank you for your generous contributions, advocacy and support.
This July marked the beginning of my fifth year as executive director, and next year will mark 35 years since Alabama Arise was founded. The COVID-19 years have stretched us to adapt in new ways. I couldn’t be more grateful for the ways our dynamic staff, supporters and board leaders have navigated these changes as we continue learning, growing and doing new things together.
As we look ahead to fall and winter, we’re doubling down on hybrid opportunities to engage members and grassroots constituents. We’re looking at how we engage the broadest base possible to achieve our goals. And we’re striving to meet the needs and goals identified by you, our members.
Thank you for charting our agenda and joining us to continue our forward momentum. When we push together, change is on the horizon.
There’s something about the approaching winter holidays that brings out the generous nature in all of us. We all want to do our part and work together to build community and a better Alabama.
At Arise, we’re grateful for your giving. Almost 13% of our financial support comes from members like you. When you give, we have the flexibility needed to focus on you and your priorities. We believe people from every community must be engaged in the state and federal policymaking process to effect real and lasting change.
Will you help us grow our membership? If you haven’t already, join or renew your membership with a gift. There are so many ways to give:
A check mailed to P.O. Box 1188, Montgomery, AL 36101.
A gift of stock.
A gift from an IRA, 401(k) or other tax-deferred savings account.
Once you’ve given, invite your friends, family and network to join you in making a difference! Or invite a group you’re in to join as a member group! Share why you’re a part of Arise and how you partner with us.
If you would like more information, please email me at jacob@alarise.org. Thank you for your generosity in this end-of-year season.
The stain was there from the start. In his opening remarks, the president of Alabama’s 1901 constitutional convention declared a major goal of the event was “within the limits imposed by the federal Constitution, to establish white supremacy in this state.”
The resulting document effectively removed the voting rights of African Americans and poor white people. Federal courts have overturned most of the discriminatory provisions, but the shameful evidence of this legacy persists in Alabama’s constitution.
Alabama Arise is committed to recognizing, teaching about and repairing the damage that state lawmakers perpetrated for generations through codifying racism and racist practices. Racist language and the harmful provisions flowing from it have no place in our state’s most important legal document. That is why we urge Alabamians to vote “Yes” on the recompiled state constitution on Nov. 8, 2022.
In 2020, Alabama voters overwhelmingly approved an amendment authorizing the Legislative Services Agency to clean up and consolidate the constitution and remove explicitly racist content and illegal provisions that have since been repealed. The Legislature approved the proposed revisions in the 2022 regular session without a dissenting vote.
Examples of deleted racist language include references to separate schools for Black and white children and prohibition of interracial marriages. The recompilation also strengthens Alabama’s prohibition of slavery by removing language that allows involuntary servitude “for the punishment of crime.”
Arise’s recommendation: Vote ‘Yes’
On Nov. 8, 2022, Alabama voters will decide whether to authorize those changes by adopting the recompiled state constitution. Arise recommends voting “Yes” on the recompilation, which will appear on the ballot as the Constitution of Alabama of 2022.
The changes in the recompilation wouldn’t address all of the problems with Alabama’s constitution, including harmful limits related to tax policy and local governance. But they still would move Alabama, and our constitution, in the right direction. Arise urges Alabamians to vote “Yes” to help move our state forward.
We deeply value the input we get from Alabama Arise members, our allies and most importantly, those directly affected by the work we do together. We depend on what we hear to help guide our issue work and our strategies.
Despite the ongoing challenges of connecting in person, we kept working at finding ways to listen. We did another series of three statewide online Town Hall Tuesdays. And we held seven additional listening sessions around the state, engaging about 200 people.
The town halls happened every two weeks, starting July 12 and ending Aug. 9. Other meetings took place throughout the summer. Below are summaries of what we heard in those meetings.
Town Hall Tuesdays
Food and health
Most participants deeply cared about Medicaid expansion. They discussed how it would help many people, including rural communities struggling with access to care. Many were frustrated that Gov. Kay Ivey has not yet expanded Medicaid in Alabama. Others discussed the connection between health and access to healthy food and nutrition. Some participants noted that other barriers like transportation also directly impact health, nutrition and employment.
Related issues raised were the needs to address the racial wealth gap and increase wages for front-line workers. Many people expressed appreciation for food banks and pantries but acknowledged that they cannot meet all food security needs. Participants encouraged Arise to remain vigilant about the threat to impose stringent work requirements for Medicaid and SNAP food assistance. Many participants also mentioned untaxing groceries as a way to improve food security.
Democracy and justice
Many participants expressed concerns about legislative attempts to suppress voting rights and said Election Day should be a state holiday. Others also expressed concerns about ballot access for people with disabilities, limited numbers of voting precincts and gerrymandering. Bottom line: We should make it easier to vote, as ballot access is key to a strong democracy.
Several participants expressed concerns about the need for more services for people leaving incarceration. We need to expand community corrections programs, enact real prison reform and get rid of unjust fines and fees.
Some participants identified language accessibility as a potential barrier to receiving many services and participating fully in our democracy. Others were concerned about allocation of American Rescue Plan Act funds and wanted more funding for the Housing Trust Fund.
The path forward
This town hall was an opportunity to talk about any issues of concern people wanted to highlight. Participants raised the following needs and concerns:
Expand Medicaid in Alabama now and address health disparities, including women’s health issues.
Untax groceries and improve our regressive tax system.
Improve voting access, including restoration of voting rights for people who were formerly incarcerated.
Address environmental issues, including working to improve air quality in schools.
Improve affordable housing access and language access, fully fund the child home visitation program and address gun violence.
Group and regional listening sessions
Session participants around the state strongly affirmed Arise’s work on the current 2022 issue priorities. They also emphasized the ongoing work to be done in those areas. Current issues highlighted were Medicaid expansion, criminal justice reform (particularly in the area of unjust fines and fees), more funding for child care and first class pre-K, public transportation and death penalty reform.
Session participants also discussed issues that aren’t on the Arise agenda but are of concern to them and their communities. Some of those issues include:
Affordable housing, with a focus on increased funding and availability. One example was discussion of whether to limit the number of vacation rental properties one person could own in an area, as this can contribute to the shortage of affordable housing. Many renters also discussed the soaring prices of rent.
Automatic organ donor registration linked to getting and renewing driver’s licenses.
Broadband internet extension to reach more rural households and Alabamians with low incomes.
Constitutional reform.
Government intrusion on private medical decisions. One example shared was concern over lawmakers interfering with rights of transgender teens to seek medical care. Another concern raised was doctors being able to provide medical care during pregnancy and decide the right time to intervene on a pregnancy that threatens the life of the mother.
Alabama Arise staff members Jennifer Harris, Whitney Washington, Presdelane Harris and Whit Sides (left to right) presented at an advocacy training for Black women from Alabama’s Black Belt region Aug. 26-28, 2022, in Birmingham. Arise will continue to assist the women in coming months as they work to reduce cervical cancer rates in their communities.
Six Black women from Alabama’s Black Belt region assembled In a meeting room at downtown Birmingham’s Westin Hotel on Aug. 26-28 for a weekend of intense and insightful advocacy training. The weekend served as this cohort’s introduction to both each other and the material they’ll be learning. And Alabama Arise had the privilege of being part of the event.
Arise health policy advocate Jennifer Harris will spend the next few months guiding these incredible women through various training sessions through a partnership with the Southern Rural Black Women’s Initiative for Economic and Social Justice (SRBWI) and Human Rights Watch (HRW). These women have been tasked with reducing rates of cervical cancer in their communities, and they are up to the challenge.
Black women die of cervical cancer at 1.5 times the rate of white women in the United States.
In Alabama, Black women die of cervical cancer at nearly twice the rate of white women.
With the HPV vaccine, cervical cancer is nearly entirely preventable.
The Black Belt region is especially hard hit due to lack of access to health care.
“Research is clear on the best possible outcomes in ideal situations. But the reality is far from ideal for many women in rural Alabama,” Jennifer said. “Less access to health care, the need for more preventive education, and barriers such as a lack of transportation increase these health disparities for too many families.
“Working with the advocates, I see women who are passionate about their communities. They are ready to use the best tools available to change this bleak narrative. I was fortunate to facilitate this training and help them identify their personal and collective voices, share their knowledge of resources, and envision better health outcomes in their community through their personal advocate lens.”
Crash courses and lessons from history
I was lucky to meet these women, learn a little about Alabama’s history and work with my colleagues in creating a helpful curriculum for the weekend. Arise executive director Robyn Hyden charged right into advocacy training on that Friday morning. Her sessions described the role of advocates, how to talk to legislators and how to get bills passed into law. Jennifer took over in the afternoon, giving a crash course on Medicaid, Medicare and the U.S. health care system.
The cohort joined the rest of SRBWI’s conference attendees for dinner that evening. Over a warm meal, I was able to chat with current coworkers, former board members and longtime Alabama activists.
Then the audience was honored to hear from Rev. Carolyn McKinstry. McKinstry, an original SRBWI member, was working as a secretary at Birmingham’s 16th Street Baptist Church when it was bombed on Sept. 15, 1963, killing four young Black girls. She’s spent much of her life as an advocate and historian to ensure the world doesn’t forget the abominations that Alabama faced during that time.
McKinstry kindly shared her story with us. She told us about that fateful day, but also the days beyond it. She described a Birmingham terrorized by racial violence and how that trauma continues to affect her and other survivors to this day. But she also described the resilience, intelligence and power that arose from communities into a movement for justice and equity.
McKinstry is only a few years older than my mother. That’s a harsh reminder of just how recent these atrocities are. And it’s a reminder of how much work remains to reform institutions and policies that continue to fuel racial disparities.
Shifting power and lifting barriers
The cohort reconvened on Saturday morning, when Arise organizing director Presdelane Harris (no relation to Jennifer) started off the morning with a session on communication styles and building relationships. I followed up with a session on coalition building. During lunch, researchers from both SRBWI and HRW gave a presentation on the heart of this cohort’s formation: cervical cancer in Black women in the South.
Alabama Arise organizing director Presdelane Harris discusses internal and external communication approaches during an advocacy training for Black women from Alabama’s Black Belt region Aug. 27, 2022, in Birmingham.
This group of women will act as community researchers and liaisons. They will promote the HPV vaccine, advocate for patients trying to access health care and dispel myths around cervical cancer. It’s a daunting task for sure, but throughout the training, it became clear they were up to it.
After lunch, I led a session on engaging with the media for advocacy work. Then Arise story collection coordinator Whit Sides gave a heartfelt presentation on sharing your own story and collecting stories from others.
The SRBWI conference and the Black Belt cohort training were an incredible opportunity to see some of the often invisible organizing and community-building work that is happening across Alabama. People long neglected by institutions and lawmakers are finding creative ways to take care of themselves and their communities. And Arise is committed to working alongside them to amplify their voices and lift policy barriers standing in their way.
Voting rights are the foundation of our democracy. That’s why I wanted to share an opportunity for you to help protect those rights in Alabama by training and volunteering as a poll monitor. This opportunity comes through the nonpartisan Election Protection network, which works to ensure fair elections and make sure every eligible voter’s voice is heard.
Volunteers will observe polling stations for things like inaccessibility, improper signage, long lines and frustrated voters leaving the polling place. Volunteers also will be trained in the use of an Election Day hotline to report issues and support voters. This opportunity is in person, but Election Protection also offers remote participation options like voter outreach and social media monitoring.
As you surely are aware, our electoral process – the bedrock of our constitutional democracy – has been under threat from false narratives about the 2020 election and from legislative attacks in recent years. Alarmingly, Alabama lawmakers introduced many bills during the most recent legislative session that would have restricted voting rights. Now is the time to stand up strongly and boldly and defend our electoral process.
The volunteer training sessions for this November’s election will begin next week and continue until the election. If you can’t participate this year but would be interested in being a poll monitor in the future, don’t worry. Signing up at any time will start your process to be trained for future elections.
