Raquel Bates
3:27:58
My name is Raquel Bates.
3:27:59
I'm the executive director of the Voices of Women Organizing Project, also known as Vow.
3:28:05
And so thank you for the opportunity to testify today.
3:28:09
Vowel was made up of community organizers who are survivors of domestic violence and child witnesses to domestic violence.
3:28:16
We organized to reform domestic violence policy, its implementation, and the services survivors turn to for safety, justice, and assistance.
3:28:27
We strongly support intro 565, sponsored by Councilmember Brewer, to amend the New York City Charter in relation to providing survivors of domestic violence with guidance on making voter registration records confidential and voting by special ballot.
3:28:43
Before the election, we worked hard to raise awareness among survivors about their options to keep their voter registration records confidential and to vote by special ballot.
3:28:54
We found that many survivors did not know their voter registration records were public information, and that alone is a deeply concerning public safety issue.
3:29:07
Furthermore, survivors did not know that they could keep their voter registration records confidential or vote by special ballot.
3:29:15
For survivors, particularly those with high privacy and safety risks, this can be the difference between life and death.
3:29:23
Providing more education and information about how survivors can keep their voter registration records confidential is critical for their safety and well-being.
3:29:33
This is why intro 565 is vitally important.
3:29:37
Survivors need to know their options in an informative way, and it has to make sense and lessen systems navigation.
3:29:47
We also believe that NGBV and the Board of Elections should work together to develop outreach strategies that speak directly to the community, to New Yorkers.
3:29:57
Not all survivors seek assistance from the family justice centers or receive services from city agencies or departments.
3:30:05
Yet the threat of physical and emotional abuse can affect any survivor and their children at any time.
3:30:12
We also encourage messaging to let survivors know that confidential voter registration is not indefinite.
3:30:19
It is for 4 years, and the steps they can take to keep their voter registration confidential if they feel unsafe.
3:30:27
Val is ready to assist in developing such outreach strategies.
3:30:31
Thank you for your time.
3:30:32
And, again, the Voices of Women Organizing Project fully supports intro 565.
