Dear Members of the TC Community,
On November 3, 2020, American citizens will vote for President of the United States. Citizens will also vote for federal, state and local public officials whose votes and decisions will bear on the future of education, the health of society, and on virtually every aspect of our lives.
With voter registration deadlines fast approaching – most states’ registration deadlines are the first week of October – TC is committed to helping you to navigate the voting process to ensure you are able to vote safely and securely. That is why are launching a non-partisan, College-wide initiative called TC Votes, which will provide you with reliable information and resources for voting—wherever you are living.
We are formally kicking off the TC Votes initiative tomorrow on Constitution Day, September 17, at 4:30 pm, when the Office of the Vice President for Diversity and Community Affairs hosts “Honoring Good Trouble: Ending Voter Suppression.” This event honors the legacy of John Lewis, the late great civil rights leader and longtime member of Congress who dedicated (and risked) his life to end voter suppression and advance voting rights. Panelists will be Julie Ebenstein, Senior Staff Attorney, Voting Rights Project at the American Civil Liberties Union; and Ricardo Ramirez, Voting Rights Advisor at the Brennan Center for Justice. The discussion will focus on the struggle for many communities to obtain the right to vote, along with the different methods that have been used to suppress voter turnout historically and to the present day. Please register for this important event here.
For anyone needing help or information for navigating the voting registration process and casting a ballot safely and securely, the Office of Government Relations will hold a weekly open house each Wednesday at 10am EST through Election Day. The Office will also share opportunities to get involved in the election process, like becoming an election worker at the polls on Election Day.
Voting is essential to the health of a representative democracy. So is taking the U.S. Census. If you have not done so already, we strongly urge you to complete the Census by September 30th. You may fill out and submit the Census online here. Census data determine not only how many members of Congress are represented by your community and state, but also the allocation of billions of dollars in federal funding.
Each of us has a vital role to play in safeguarding our future. Let’s make TC Votes a winning campaign for our representative democracy.
Thomas Bailey
President, Teachers College
Stephanie J. Rowley
Provost, Dean and Vice President for Academic Affairs