Campus Connection

Only a month old, the student chapter of the National Lawyers Guild (University of Maryland School of Law) mobilized in early October to register disenfranchised voters at the Baltimore City Jail and federal courthouse. In addition to helping nearly 200 detainees and recently naturalized citizens register to vote, the group organized an upcoming legal observer training and a fundraiser to underwrite future activities.

The voter enfranchisement project focused on two key groups – individuals with criminal histories detained at the Baltimore City Jail and recently naturalized U.S. citizens. The student group's founder and president, Katie D’Adamo, led the push to help detainees vote. “I thought that it was important to conduct the registration at the jail for a number of reasons, but mainly to inform detainees of their voting rights and to enable them to participate in the election process if they were eligible,” D’Adamo said. She added, “While detained, few people actually register because of perceived logistical difficulties: they can't just go to the Internet and print off a voter registration form or absentee ballot application and mail it in.” The main focus at the jail was on those affected by a new law passed in Maryland allowing individuals who have finished serving the sentence for their felony convictions to vote. Many of the individuals detained at the jail had previous felony convictions and were either awaiting trial or serving time for a misdemeanor.

In addition to registering voters, the group helped those who would be detained beyond Election Day apply for an absentee ballot. D’Adamo says Warden Norman Watkins was a huge assistance. Watkins registered voters before and after the group came on the scene. The student group will return to help Watkins with the absentee ballots later this month.

The second prong of the voter registration efforts helped newly naturalized citizens register to vote. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service has been offering extra oath ceremonies in the weeks leading up to the election. Because there is such a small window of time between the ceremony and the last day to register to vote, the group wanted to make sure the newly eligible voters were registered. To streamline these efforts, the group joined with CASA (Central American Solidarity Association) of Maryland, which has been spearheading a larger voter registration drive in Maryland.

The student group plans to continue helping CASA register voters until the deadline of Tuesday, October 14. They will also be helping CASA follow-up with voters to make sure they receive their registration cards and get out and vote.

On October 23 at 5 p.m., the group will host a legal observer training at the university. They plan to put their watchdog skills to work at several upcoming protests and rallies in the area. After the training, there will be a fundraiser and happy hour at Quigley’s Half-Irish Pub in Ridgely’s Delight beginning at 7:30 p.m.

For more information about upcoming events, making donations, or general involvement with the National Lawyers Guild, please contact president Katie D’Adamo at Katie.D’Adamo@gmail.com.

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