The national Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (Lawyers’ Committee) recently announced a partnership with Hill Harper, actor, author and philanthropist, who will serve as national spokesperson integrally involved in the organization’s work to expand access to and safeguard the right to vote throughout the 2016 presidential election cycle.
“The right to vote is the most precious right in our democracy,” said Harper. “In order to help bring change to America and have your voice heard, we need to remember that every vote counts. Our vote counts. I am looking forward to partnering with the Lawyers’ Committee to support its Election Protection program and other efforts aimed at protecting the right to vote and energizing the public to turnout and participate on Election Day.”
In his role as a national spokesperson on behalf of the Lawyers’ Committee, Harper will elevate the organization’s work to promote voting rights and engage stakeholders, including the public, policymakers and the media. In this role, Harper will help to promote the Election Protection program, the nation’s premier nonpartisan election monitoring program. Through a state-of-the-art hotline: 866-OUR-VOTE, the Election Protection program helps to ensure that Americans from coast to coast are provided with comprehensive voter information on how they can make sure their vote is counted. As a national spokesperson, Harper will help the Lawyers’ Committee achieve its goal of expanding voter education and awareness, particularly among young people, minorities and other historically excluded groups.
Harper has long championed social justice causes. He is founder of the Manifest Your Destiny Foundation, dedicated to empowering underserved youth through mentorship, scholarship, and grant programs. Throughout his career, Harper has appeared in numerous films, television shows, and plays and has received seven NAACP Image Awards for his writing and acting. He currently plays the role of Special Agent Spelman Boyle on the CBS drama Limitless and starred on the CBS TV drama CSI: NY from 2004 to 2013. Harper is the author of four New York Times bestsellers and he has earned seven NAACP Image Awards for his writing and acting. He received a J.D. from Harvard Law School, an M.P.A. from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard and a B.A. from Brown University. Harper holds Honorary Doctoral Degrees from Winston-Salem State University, Cheyney University, Westfield State College, Tougaloo College, Dillard University and Howard University.
“We continue to witness efforts to make access to the ballot box more difficult across the country,” said Lawyers’ Committee President and Executive Director Kristen Clarke. “Hill Harper’s voice, optimism and longstanding commitment to social justice will help strengthen our efforts to educate voters, promote the Election Protection program and increase voter participation this election cycle. We are thrilled to partner with him around an issue that is truly the bedrock of American democracy.”
The Lawyers’ Committee leads Election Protection, the nation’s largest nonpartisan voter protection coalition with over 100 partners. Through its suite of hotlines, including the 866-OUR-VOTE hotline (866-687-8683), administered by the Lawyers’ Committee, and a dedicated team of trained legal and grassroots volunteers, Election Protection helps all American voters, including traditionally disenfranchised groups, gain access to the polls and overcome obstacles to voting.
