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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe 2014 Law Day theme looks at the right to vote and why every vote matters. Law Day – celebrated May 1 – was started to mark the nation’s commitment to the rule of law.
This year’s theme, “American Democracy and the Rule of Law: Why Every Vote Matters,” calls on Americans to reflect on the importance of their right to vote and the challenges that still arise when some citizens try to vote.
Law Day 2014 occurs on the eve of the 50th anniversaries of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
“The need for advocacy and action is well documented. A recent report of the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Election Law noted numerous instances of long lines at the polls during the 2012 presidential election, some voters having to wait hours to cast a ballot. Factors leading to the long wait times included poor planning, lack of alternative voting options, inadequate supply of voting machines, and technology malfunctions. Other factors included long and extensive ballots, sudden changes to voting laws, and lapses in poll worker training,” ABA President James R. Silkenat said.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower established Law Day in 1958 as a day of national dedication to the principles of government under law. Congress in 1961 designated May 1 as the official date to mark Law Day.
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