Civil Rights Groups, Labor Petition Demands DOJ Block Discriminatory Voting Laws
November 7, 2011
Leila McDowell 202 728 9557 lmcdowell@advancementproject.org
Erika Maye 202 728 9557 emaye@advancementproject.org
ADVANCEMENT PROJECT, VOTO LATINO, AFL-CIO, CIVIL RIGHTS GROUPS LAUNCH PETITION TO DEPT OF JUSTICE DEMANDING OPPOSITION TO VOTER DISENFRACHISMENT LAWS
The civil rights organization Advancement Project, in partnership with a group of civil rights, labor and other civic organizations, is launching a petition to the Department of Justice on Tuesday, Nov. 8th when millions will go to the polls to vote in state and local elections. It also marks one year until the entire nation will vote in the 2012 Presidential Election.
The petition urges DOJ to deny approval to new repressive voting laws in states governed under the Voting Right Act such as Texas, South Carolina and Florida, which this year passed legislation that will suppress votes from people of color, the disabled, youth and the elderly. The petition also calls on DOJ to oppose new restrictive voting laws in other states. In 2011, 34 states introduced laws designed by right wing think tanks and backed by conservative funders to impose restrictive state photo ID requirements on voters. Other proposals reduce early voting, impose onerous restrictions on voter registration, and make it more difficult for voters with criminal records to vote. It is expected that many states will re-introduce such legislation next year.
Over 21 million Americans lack a current state-issued photo ID. The states that have already passed restrictive voting laws represent 63 percent of the electoral votes needed to win the presidency.
A new film by Brave New Foundation and Advancement Project will be released Tuesday that explores the money trail backing these voter disenfranchisement laws.
For more information contact: Leila McDowell at 202 728 9557 or lmcdowell@advancementproject.org or Erika Maye at 202 728 9557 or emaye@advancementproject.org.
