Thursday, August 25 - LIFT the BAR Act / Jail Voter Registration Training
Actions You Can Take Today
Action 1: Call on your member of Congress to co-sponsor the LIFT the BAR Act
Action 2: Virtual training for registering voters in Cook County Jail on Friday, September 2 at 5 p.m. — more trainings availably monthly
Action 1: Call On Your Rep to Co-Sponsor LIFT the BAR Act
25 years ago, Congress passed a law that blocked immigrants who had not had their “green card” for at least five years from accessing health care, food aid, or income assistance. It also said that many other categories of immigrants, like TPS holders or COFA migrants, shouldn’t get any assistance at all.
It is past time to restore access to necessary health care and social services for immigrants by taking this first step towards justice and repealing that 1996 law. Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal and Senator Mazie Hirono have introduced the LIFT the BAR Act, which, if passed, would make all lawfully present immigrants eligible for federal programs like Medicaid, SNAP, CHIP, TANF, and SSI — without waiting periods.
States around the country have taken action to make all immigrants, regardless of status, eligible for assistance, so the least Congress can do is take the first step by undoing the racist, xenophobic 1996 law. You can learn more on our LIFT the BAR Act factsheet and through our partners in the Protecting Immigrant Families network.
Call on your member of Congress and tel them to co-sponsor the LIFT the BAR Act today.
Action via National Immigration Law Center
Action 2: Jail Voter Registration Training on 9/2
In the June primary election, 25% of people detained in Cook County Jail voted. That’s compared to 20% of the overall Chicago population. In hopes of topping that in the fall general elections, Chicago Votes will be back registering voters in the jail this month. Read more about elections in the jail in “Cook County Jail Detainees Had A Higher Voter Turnout In The Primary Than The City As A Whole.”
Interested in registering voters inside the jail? The first step is to attend a Cook County Jail Votes training. Cook County Jail Votes trainings occur virtually, on a monthly basis. Attending a training is REQUIRED in order to enter the jail.
The next training will be on Friday, September 3 at 5 pm.
Action via Chicago Votes
While some of these Daily Actions come from our own work as Indivisible Chicago Alliance, others are from our many partners working to advance the progressive agenda. We invite you to join us in supporting their work. Postings from partners do not imply Indivisible Chicago Alliance endorsement of specific policies and positions.