Voting Rights

As the Supreme Court prepares to hear arguments on the Voting Rights Act later this month, it’s important to remember that recent actions have made it harder for millions of eligible voters to register and participate in our elections.  The New York Times takes a look at how lines to vote impacted the 2012 elections:

Today, Rep. John Lewis (GA-5), House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5), Assistant Democratic Leader James Clyburn (SC-6), Rep. John Conyers (MI-13), and Rep. Robert Brady (PA-1) reintroduced the Voter Empowerment Act in the House of Representatives.  Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York introduced a companion version in the Senate.  The Voter Empowerment Act will help ensure equal access to the ballot for every eligible voter, will modernize our voter registration system to help more Americans participate, and takes steps to eliminate deceptive practices and voter fraud that deter voters from casting their ballots. 

“Today's ruling in Pennsylvania affirms what Democrats have contended all along:  that new, Republican-sponsored voter identification laws are an attempt to suppress the votes of eligible Americans. In a democracy, that’s not what we ought to do. We ought to encourage and facilitate every vote.

Wanted to make sure you saw today's op-ed by Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) and Ranking Member of the House Administration Committee Robert Brady (PA) in the Huffington Post about the importance of the Election Assistance Commission.  To read the op-ed, click here or see below:

“I applaud today’s ruling by the DC District Court that concluded the Texas voter identification law would make it more difficult for citizens to exercise their right to vote. This law is just one example of legislation that is being passed across the country that could disenfranchise minorities, the elderly, and college students. While proponents of these voter identification laws claim they’re targeting voter fraud, there is scant evidence that such fraud exists. Instead, the real purpose of these laws is to make it substantially harder for eligible voters to cast their ballot and have their votes counted.

Today’s misguided decision to uphold the restrictive  voter ID law in Pennsylvania is a reminder of the challenges we face to ensure that all citizens have access to the ballot box on Election Day.

Recently, we have seen several states across the country implement restrictive and unfair voting restrictions, citing the need to prevent against alleged fraud. But as this analysis in the Washington Post confirms, there are fewer examples of this illegal activity than voter ID supporters claim:

“With a crucial election less than three months away, it’s never been more important for young people to make their voices heard,” said Whip Hoyer. “That is why Democrats are reaching out to colleges and universities across the country to make sure that every eligible student voter has the information needed to cast a ballot this November. The right to vote is the most powerful weapon we have in a democracy. Yet with state voting registration laws constantly changing, often students can be left out in the cold. I hope colleges and universities will do their part to help ensure all students can stand up and be counted this November.”