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Sunday, March 30, 2025

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Wisconsin AG seeks to stop Elon Musk's $1M payments at rally giveaway; Rural advocates urge CA lawmakers to safeguard banking protections; Federal, state job cuts threaten FL workers' rights, services; Alabama counties lack high-speed internet and health access.

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President Trump says there are ways for him to take a third term. New tariffs are scheduled for this week, but economists say they'll hurt buying power. And advocates say the Trans Day of Visibility is made more important by state legislation.

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Rural folks face significant clean air and water risks due to EPA cutbacks, a group of policymakers is working to expand rural health care via mobile clinics, and a new study maps Montana's news landscape.

CT coalition supports ‘Right to Vote’ legislation

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Friday, February 28, 2025   

Community groups are coming together to expand voting rights to all Connecticut residents.

The Connecticut Right to Vote Campaign says it aims to ensure all lawful permanent residents would be able to vote, as well as encourage them to turn out for local, state and federal elections.

The campaign's centerpiece is HJ 26, a bill that would allow lawful permanent residents to vote.

Helen Quinonez, a community organizer with Make the Road Connecticut, said the campaign and bill have widespread support.

"We don't have only the support from the community who are not able to vote now; we have the support from the community who actually can vote," she said. "But we need to increase the vote participation in Connecticut, because a lot of people don't go to vote in local, municipal elections."

Despite support for the campaign and the bill, Quinonez acknowledged it may take five years to accomplish their goals, given the current political climate. As President Donald Trump continues to support mass deportations, groups working for immigrants' rights want Connecticut lawmakers to bolster state immigration laws to better protect residents.

A crux of the campaign will center on using voting rights in local and municipal elections. State data show declines in voter turnout across local and federal elections.

Ariana Fernandez, a community organizer with United Parents and Students, said educating people about voting will be a big part of their efforts - helping them understand the importance in their own lives of being able to vote.

"The biggest way to have a voice in their child's education is through a vote and deciding who represents whatever education matters that affect their children," she said. "So, as an example, the Board of Education - and we know during these local elections, there's a lot of parents who are left out of that voting process."

She pointed out if people who live and work in the state can't vote, it's a form of taxation without representation. It's estimated that immigrants in Connecticut contribute more than $406 million a year in taxes to the state's economy.


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