Today is National Voter Registration Day, and it’s important to make sure you are registered at your current address and ready to vote. You can get information about registering to vote or updating your voter registration here. This election we all must vote for our values – fight for our rights.

When every eligible person can register and vote, the promise of democracy becomes more real for all of us.

We need our federal leaders to do everything within their authority to protect and promote the fundamental right to vote.

Last year, the Biden administration put forth an executive order to promote incorporating voter registration in federal agencies’ everyday interactions with eligible voters – a practice already well-established in state agencies such as state motor vehicle departments and public assistance offices for decades. Given the onslaught of attacks on voting rights across the country, this executive order to promote access to voting was an important step from the Biden administration to protect our democracy.

The administration has made progress, and it’s great news to hear the Department of Interior has begun working with the states of Kansas and New Mexico to secure designation of Haskell Indian Nations University and Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute as voter registration agencies, and we celebrate the Department of Veterans Affairs for working with a handful of states to secure designations of its facilities serving veterans as voter registration agencies. These steps are significant and will help bring our Native American communities and our veterans into full civic participation.

But this isn’t enough, and the federal government can do more. This executive order could ensure thousands of veterans, students, low-income people, people of color, and others have the opportunity to register to vote, not just on voter registration day or month, but every day of the year.

We hope that the Biden administration will honor the commitments already made (but not yet implemented) by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Indian Health Services (IHS) to expand access to voter registration for the millions of people they serve, many of whom are low-income and/or people of color. Additionally, here are a few other vital steps the Biden administration could do expand access to voter registration:

• United States Citizenship and Immigration Services: Require USCIS employees to ensure that all newly naturalized citizens are offered an opportunity to register to vote.
• Department of Education: Offer voter registration in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application process. Over 17 million students file the FAFSA annually. It is estimated that 83 percent of Black students, 74 percent of Hispanic students, 54 percent of Asian students, and 77 percent of Native American students complete the FAFSA, in addition to 73 percent of low-income students. Including an opportunity to register to vote in the FAFSA application process would provide voter registration opportunities for millions of Americans who are either unregistered, or who need to update their registration at a new address.

Strong implementation of this executive order is one of the most impactful actions this Administration can take to secure the right to vote for all eligible Americans. We urge the Biden-Harris administration and federal agencies make the Executive Order on Promoting Access to Voting a top priority.

This November, we can’t forget how important it is for all eligible voters to register to vote and update their registration when they have moved. Whether it’s for a secretary of state or a local election administrator, every election official will play a role in protecting our right to vote. That’s why it’s important to vote your values this upcoming election. You have the power to change this country.

For more information about the Executive Order, check out these resources from Demos.

Blog header image features a VHS Banned Book Club meeting at Vandegrift High School. Credit: Ella Scott

Millions of students went back to school this year facing censorship efforts that restrict their right to learn. Since 2021, dozens of states have moved to introduce and pass classroom censorship bills that restrict students and educators from discussing race, gender, and sexual orientation in K-12 classrooms and universities. At the same time, politicians and school boards across the country have also made moves to ban books — especially books representing Black and LGBTQ experiences — from public schools and libraries.

Students who are directly impacted by these censorship efforts are at the forefront of advocating for their right to receive an inclusive education. We spoke with Ella Scott, a junior at Vandegrift High School who co-founded the Vandegrift Banned Book Club in response to book bans happening in her Texas high school. We hope this conversation inspires you to defend your right to read and learn.

ACLU: What inspired you to start the Vandegrift High School (VHS) Banned Book Club?

ES: The VHS Banned Book Club is run by me and my childhood best friend, Alyssa Hoy. Alyssa’s mom is a teacher at our high school, and she mentioned that there was a list of books our school district, Leander Independent School District, was planning to remove from our classroom shelves and libraries. The books were also being removed as options for reading and discussions in our English classes.

We had no idea this list existed for the longest time because our school struggled to communicate this. We were really shocked that students didn’t know this was happening, especially since it’s something that’s affecting our education and makes a big impact on what we can learn and what materials we can have access to. So we really wanted to create the club as an opportunity for students to become aware of this issue and to make sure students have the materials they need to talk about it.

ACLU: Once you decided you wanted to start a banned book club, what were the initial steps you took to get it going?

Credit: Ella Scott

ES: We started reaching out to our friends first to spread the word about the club and try to build members. We were a very small group initially, as there were only six of us at first. But now, we’ve tripled in size, which is very exciting! We would meet about every month in the library and start plowing through the list of books that our school was attempting to remove and focusing discussions on them.

I think what really helped us get started initially was talking to other students and reaching out to friends about the club because there’s power in numbers. The more people you get involved, the more awareness you can raise towards the issue. It really helps because it shows just how many people are passionate about their right to read and their right to education.

ACLU: Did you receive any pushback from your school when trying to start up your club?

ES: Like any other school club at our high school, we had to go through an application process to become a club. But overall, we didn’t receive any pushback for the formation of the club from our teachers or librarians. They’ve all been really supportive. The main hurdle though was, at first, we had difficulty getting access to the novels we wanted to read because of our district’s book ban. We asked some of the English teachers who had extra copies of some of the books on their shelves if VHS Banned Book Club students could borrow them for the month, but they were not allowed to do that because of the school district’s ban. So instead, we posted public Amazon wish lists for books that donors contributed to that allowed us to get some of the books on our list for club members.

ACLU: How do you select books to read for the club?

ES: All of the books we have read and propose to read come from the list of books the district removed from our school. We have a Google form that we update every month where we have all those books listed and our members get to vote for which one they want to read next.

ACLU: How many books has the banned book club read so far?

ES: Oh, that’s a good question. We’ve read 7 books.

ACLU: What’s your favorite banned book that you’ve read so far?

ES: The Handmaid’s Tale!

ACLU: How often do you meet?

ES: We meet twice a month.

ACLU: How do you decide what questions to ask to guide those book club meetings?

ES: We have officer positions for our club, and one of the positions is “Discussion Curator.” They are responsible for writing about five questions every meeting to help guide the discussions. Most are normal book club questions like “Which characters do you relate to?” or “What scene in the book stood out to you?”. But there are also questions like “How does this book being banned affect you and make you feel as a student? and How does it affect your learning?”. Those are the types of questions we will dive into as a group.

ACLU: Why do you think starting a banned book club is an effective way to take action and push back against administrators and school boards who are trying to remove books from schools?

ES: In our school district, there are some people who have very intense beliefs about whether books should be allowed or not. And you can definitely see that through our board meetings where a lot of people preach their opinions. But our focus really is making sure that every student has the ability to access and discuss these books. The best way to fight censorship is to get students involved in the conversation that adults say we shouldn’t be having.

ACLU: What advice would you give to other students who might want to take action against book bans and other efforts from adults trying to limit what they can read?

ES: I would say don’t be afraid to break boundaries. I think that was something I really learned from this experience. A lot of adults weren’t asking for student opinions in this book ban debate, but our club is giving it in a place where it wasn’t asked for and I think it has made a huge difference. It’s helping a lot of people understand that students do add value in this conversation, and our opinion is just as valid as anyone else’s. As students, we’re in high school learning how to navigate the world around us, and these books really help us with that. If you support this issue, you shouldn’t feel afraid to show that support and fight for it because you are fighting for your rights. And as a student, you deserve that. So there’s no reason to fear standing up for what you believe in.

I am honored to join the ACLU of Florida family and prepared to battle for civil liberties. I have a long and varied history of advocating for civil rights, and I come to the ACLU of Florida ready to continue that work to help bring about the equity and justice that we are all working towards.

I have always believed in working to spread truth and build power in the community while insisting on accountability from those who are supposed to serve the people. I came to Florida fully understanding that there are challenges. There are those in power who seek to undermine the will of the people. And while the challenges may seem never-ending, what brought me here is the opportunity I saw to be a part of this vast movement for justice that Floridians have been building together for decades. Together we can advance voting access, immigrants’ rights, racial justice, LGBTQ+ equity, and abortion rights.

Let me share a little bit about my journey and what brought me to the ACLU of Florida. I am coming to Florida from the mountains of Colorado, where I served as executive director of the Colorado Center on Law and Policy (CCLP), a statewide advocacy organization that advances anti-poverty efforts through research, as well as legal and legislative advocacy.

Prior to my time at CCLP, I served as chief executive officer of a health equity organization and chief strategy officer of a large direct-services organization for Coloradans living with disabilities. I also held leadership positions at the University of Denver from 2007-2014, including chair and faculty posts in the Law and Society and Community-Based Research programs. I developed and led internationalization efforts, serving as a visiting lecturer in Southeast Asia and Africa, teaching in the areas of law and economic development.

Before my academic career, I was a community-based lawyer and helped to frame strategic litigation to address rights violations systematically. I have also conducted research and policy analysis on a variety of different social justice issues, including a national study on women’s leadership. My book, Recognizing Women’s Leadership: Strategies and Best Practices for Employing Excellence, examines where women sit in leadership roles and how well they are performing compared to their male counterparts.

This voyage began when I earned a Juris doctor and master's degrees in the United States before receiving my LL.M. from the University of London, Birkbeck College of Law, with distinctions in international finance law and justice. My dissertation topic focused on feminist political economics in South Africa.

Along the way, I have worked with many people who have inspired me, and I know that will be the case in Florida, given the ACLU of Florida's storied history. Among those from whom I have taken great strength are those most impacted by unjust laws and policies: low-income communities, immigrants, those discriminated against because of who they love, and those fighting for their right to live free from discrimination and racism and to control their own bodies. I will continue to be in that struggle for justice alongside all of you and the staff of the ACLU of Florida.  I want to thank the state board for having the confidence in me to give me this great opportunity.

I can't wait to meet as many of you as possible as the work of this great affiliate continues. Together I know we can advance the cause of justice. We can change the air we breathe in Florida. We can change the world.

Get to Know Tiffani Lennon

ACLU of Florida staff's burning questions for our new executive director.

1. What do you like most about yourself?
   There are three things that I like most about myself. I am fiercely loyal to my family, friends and colleagues. I will fight for and make sacrifices to advance justice consistently and unwaveringly. Finally, I can host a killer dinner party.
    
2. Where have you lived throughout your life?
   I have lived in New Jersey, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Colorado, South Africa, London, and now my favorite, Florida.
    
3. Tell us about a fond childhood memory.
   I grew up in an Italian immigrant community in New Jersey and all good memories revolve around food, food and more food. I already feel at home in Florida for so many reasons related to my childhood. 
    
4. Do you have any hobbies that you'd like to share?
   I love boating, kayaking, hiking and cooking. I enjoy gardening too, and I welcome any Florida tips.
    
5. Who is your favorite author?
   Not to be cliche but I do enjoy classic Ernest Hemingway, and more modern favorites include Rosamunde Pilcher and Marisa de los Santos.
    
6. What’s the best show on TV right now?
   I am ashamed to admit it but since I am among friends I will confess… Married at First Sight.
    
7. What is the best concert you have ever been to?
   The Billy Joel and Elton John tour was a good deal of fun.
    
8. What are you most thankful for?
   My family. I have two amazing kids and an incredible spouse who has a heart of gold. She has never met a child that she did not call her own. 
    
9. What do you feel most passionate about?
   Securing justice and civil rights, particularly for historically marginalized communities.
    
10. Who’s your dream dinner party guest, living or dead?
    I do not think I could choose just one. Sojourner Truth, Robin Williams, and Michelle Obama come to mind immediately.
     
11. Who in your life most makes you feel a sense of home?
    My spouse and kids.
     
12. What’s the best piece of career advice you ever got?
    Perception is reality, which is also the most annoying piece of advice I have ever received. I prefer facts but… what can you do?
     
13. What are the most important qualities in a leader?
    Walking the talk to the best of one’s ability, and taking the blame for everything and credit for nothing.
     
14. Tell us something about you that surprises people.
    I have more than 50 publications and enjoy reality TV, like Wife Swap.
     
15. What is your favorite thing to bake or cook?
    I enjoy experimenting with food and creating something new.
     
16. Tell us one thing on your bucket list.
    I have two things on my bucket list. I’d like to travel to space and be invited for a Seder dinner at The White House.
     
17. What are you looking forward to doing at the ACLU of Florida?
    Securing voting rights for all, and ensuring appropriate checks and balances of government so that civil rights and liberties can be realized.
     
18. Why the ACLU of Florida?
    When I shared with colleagues in Colorado that I will be relocating to Florida to work for the ACLU, they commented that I am going into the belly of the beast. What is happening to civil liberties in Florida must stop, not only for Florida, but for the good of the country. Our basic constitutional values are in grave danger. I have devoted my entire career to advancing rights… and we must get Florida right. I do not intend to back down and I hope Floridians will join us. We are in the fight of our lives.