Washington, DC – DNC Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz released the following statement recognizing National Voter Registration Day:

“Fifty years ago, hundreds of young volunteers descended on Mississippi for Freedom Summer to register black Mississippians to vote. Despite being met with hatred and violence, the effort was an important milestone in the Civil Rights movement.

“Half a century after Freedom Summer, voter registration remains among the most effective methods by which to empower a community. Today, on National Voter Registration Day, and all days, we encourage every American to be sure they are able to exercise their right to vote.

“The Democratic Party believes that our nation and our democracy are stronger when more people participate. That is why our Voter Expansion Project is committed to more than just protecting the vote, but to expanding the vote as well. Registering new voters is one of the DNC’s top priorities in 2014 and beyond, and we have used our data and technology advantage to develop tools that allow voter registration efforts to use their finite resources most efficiently.

“Unfortunately, Republicans have made the cynical calculation that their path to victory is a smaller electorate. Obstacles to registering to vote  – such as elimination of same-day registration and refusal to adopt online registration – disproportionately affect young people, women, and communities of color.  These are the same groups that are fueling the growth of the Democratic Party and the key to victory for Democratic candidates – and also comprise a majority of all Americans.

“The DNC is fighting to make sure that every eligible voter can register, every registered voter can vote, and every vote cast is counted. This National Voter Registration Day, everyone should take a few minutes to visit IWillVote.com or VoyAVotar2014.com to find out how to register to vote if they haven’t already. And if you are registered to vote, sign the pledge to vote this November at Commit2Vote.com.”