Press Releases | Jul, 29 2015
LBJ Presidential Library and Travis County Tax Office
Commemorate 50th Anniversary of LBJ's Signing of
Landmark Voting Rights Act with a
Voter Registration Drive
MEDIA CONTACTS:
- Anne Wheeler, LBJ Presidential Library, awheeler@lbjfoundation.org, (512) 721-0216
- Tiffany Seward, Travis County Tax Office, tiffany.seward@traviscountytx.gov, (512) 854-9473
AUSTIN – The LBJ Presidential Library and the Travis County Tax Office will partner to host a voter registration drive on Thursday, August 6 – 50 years to the day after President Lyndon Johnson signed the historic Voting Rights Act, one of the most impactful laws in this country. The drive will be from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the LBJ Presidential Library in Austin, Texas.
Of the more than 1,000 laws passed in his administration, President Johnson called the Voting Rights Act the most important: "The right to vote is the basic right without which all others are meaningless." The purpose of the law is to end discrimination at the polls.
Travis County Volunteer Deputy Registrars will register new voters.
WHO: Public is invited to register to vote on this historic day
WHAT: Bipartisan voter registration drive honoring the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act
WHEN: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., August 6, 2015
WHERE: 2313 Red River St., Austin, Texas, 78705
WHY: In America, women did not have the right to vote until 1920. Minorities, particularly African Americans, were blocked from the ballot box by poll taxes, literacy tests and other barriers, including violence. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 gives a voice to all Americans regardless of race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation. Yet, today the number of people going to the polls is in decline. On the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, the LBJ Library and Travis County Tax office encourage potential voters to honor those who fought for this important right by becoming eligible to vote. The process only takes a few minutes and provides an opportunity to help choose our elected officials and impact how government operates. To learn more about registering to vote, visit the Travis County Tax Office.
The LBJ Library has made historical materials about the Voting Rights Act, including photos, videos, telephone conversations, and other items available to download and use free of charge.
About the LBJ Presidential Library: The LBJ Presidential Library is one of 13 presidential libraries administered by the National Archives and Records Administration. Its mission is to preserve and protect the historical materials in the collections of the Library and make them readily accessible; to increase public awareness of the American experience through relevant exhibits and educational programs; to advance the LBJ Library’s standing as a center for intellectual activity and community leadership while meeting the challenges of a changing world.
The Library is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (except Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day).
About the Travis County Tax Office: Bruce Elfant is the Travis County Tax Assessor-Collector and Voter Registrar. He was elected in 2012.
The mission of the Travis County Tax Assessor-Collector's Office is to:
- Assess, collect and distribute property taxes
- Collect defendant's court fines and fees for County Courts at Law and JP Courts
- Register and title motor vehicles
- Register eligible citizens to vote
We are committed to carrying out these responsibilities while providing consistently outstanding customer service through a process of continuous evaluation and improvement of the ways in which we conduct business.
