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Hyundai Dot com today. The
fight for civil rights reached
its most visible point
probably in the 50’s and 60’s
with a couple of the
>> high water marks the signing of the civil rights
signing of the civil rights
and voting rights acts and
1964. 65. But just because
bills were signed, that mean
the problems and challenges one away. Pam Gaskin knows
one away. Pam Gaskin knows
from that experience and has
spent her life helping to drop
barriers to vote in. Good
morning, Pam. Good to see you.
Good morning. I know that this
the Voting Rights Act was passed when you were a
passed when you were a
freshman at UT yes. How pet
things been before the act was
passed and immediately after
okay. >> Well, before, of course, in
>> Well, before, of course, in
Texas, African Americans. Did
not have the right to vote
unless you pay the poll tax.
Which was a financial burden. I’ve seen receipts and I’ve
I’ve seen receipts and I’ve
looked for some and I know
I’ve got them somewhere $2, $3 for poll tax will think about
for poll tax will think about
in 19. The 40’s when a loaf of
bread was $0.19. $2 was a lot
of money. So if you want to
vote, you pay poll tax. A lot
of folks just didn’t vote.
Then in 1965 when the Voting
Rights Act was passed, of course, it didn’t go into
course, it didn’t go into
effect in Texas until 1966.
now I was 18 at the time. So and back then you couldn’t
and back then you couldn’t
vote until you’re 21. However.
I hope register people to vote
in Austin, Texas, in 1966.
>> And you’ve been doing it
ever sense. Yes. And so now
you very much involved with the League of Women Voters.
the League of Women Voters.
Tell me about your role with
that organization and why it’s
so important to non-partisan
organization. Why it matters
that that organization is
doing what it’s doing and why you involved.
you involved.
>> Because our democracy works
best. When everyone who can
vote does vote. That makes
true. Representative government. So the league
government. So the league
being non-partisan, we are
looking to register and
educate people to vote and I
don’t speak for the A member of the league and I can speak
of the league and I can speak
for my work. This is an
organization that is open,
welcoming and you can find
your spot. I worked on the voter guide, which people
voter guide, which people
still rely on I could help
develop questions. 4
candidates I’ve done voter
registration served on the board of directors of the
board of directors of the
Houston Lee. So I’ve been
active in the league for 25
years. And before then you are
active doing other things
before you got in the weeks salute. Leave it with us or
salute. Leave it with us or
with my sorority Alpha Kappa
Alpha.
>> And just because I’m me and
I miss a busy body and always looking something to do. So I
looking something to do. So I
went to the county and I got
deputized as a voter registrar
and I’m my friend Rose and I would set up a card table Girl
would set up a card table Girl
Lynn’s grocery store in
Missouri City and register
voters. And now I know one of
the things you’ve been quite
outspoken about recently is a new law concerning mail.
new law concerning mail.
Ballots has been a challenge
in some places.
>> Potential harm that could
cause what has been your
personal experience with it
and what concerns do you have about what others may go
about what others may go
through?
>> Well, my personal
experience is not very nice. I
had to fill out an application
for mail in ballot 3 times. I
was rejected twice the first
time because the county had
posted the wrong form and I
pull down the wrong form. Got
a letter that said well,
through no fault of yours, and
I’ve talked to the Clark. I
filled out the correct form Senate got rejected because I
Senate got rejected because I
didn’t put the form of ID on
my application for mail in
ballot that I had put on my
application to register to
vote 46 years ago. Wow.
>> As somebody who’s been
involved with voting as much
as you have, if you had that
kind of problem, that’s a red
flag about what others may go
through. Yes, for Yes, it is.
Some of the folks who put the
law in effect said quite
frankly, this new law as a
matter of people getting used
to a say, work. I say
>> that this new law is going to cause people not to vote.
to cause people not to vote.
Everyone is not persistent and
they look and say, well, I got
rejected. So maybe it’s not
meant for me to vote today in this election and they won’t
this election and they won’t
vote. In Texas. There’s a
limited class of people that can vote early. 65 and over
can vote early. 65 and over
disabled, incarcerated or out
of the county the duration of the voting period. Most of the
the voting period. Most of the
people who vote early are
disabled and 65 and over. You
wake up. You’re 85 You wake
up. You got arthritis. You’ve the health challenges. You get
the health challenges. You get
a letter in the mail that says
your early voting ballot.
rejected. What do you don’t
do? You may just decide, you know, hey, I will give this a
know, hey, I will give this a
Pasco. So feel like dealing
with this today.
>> What’s your optimism going
forward for what you’re doing?
Not only for that issue, but
for other issues related to
voting rights. >> Well, I have to stay
>> Well, I have to stay
positive because if I can just
encourage one person to vote.
I ask you after, what have you
voted and give you a copy of
the voter If I can encourage
one person to change their
mind who said I’m not voting. I get that a lot with young
I get that a lot with young
people. My son will not
political. say, well, you
know, politics is practiced by
politicians who make policy and policy affects your
and policy affects your
everyday life. So both for
yourself. Before you sell. I
like that. And I’ll tell you
what my voting status is when
we get done. All right, Jessica, thank you for what
Jessica, thank you for what
you do. Good luck in League of
Women. Voters. Look for to see
you back here. March 1st.