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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAlabama Congresswoman Asks DOJ To Investigate DMV Closures
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/terri-sewell-alabama-dmvRep. Terri Sewell (D-AL) released a letter Monday to Attorney General Loretta Lynch asking the department to investigate the closures in a state which requires government-issued photo IDs to vote. Eight of the 14 counties in Sewell's district will be without a DMV, the letter said.
"Despite a budgetary pretext, the consequence of this decision is to deny the most vulnerable in Alabama an equal opportunity to obtain a means to vote," Sewell wrote. "These closures will potentially disenfranchise Alabama's poor, elderly, disabled and black communities."
The closures, announced last week, drew a firestorm of criticism -- including from Hillary Clinton, who called them "a blast from the Jim Crow past" -- out of concerns that it will be that much harder for poor and minority citizens to meet the requirements for the state's tough voter ID law.
KeepItReal
(7,769 posts)Un-American GOP in 'Bama doing all they can to suppress votes.
Dustlawyer
(10,494 posts)attempting to subvert Democracy by pulling stunts like DMV closures, voter ID requirements when there is no appreciable "in-person" voting fraud taking place. It is all a transparent attempt to disenfranchise Americans and should be called out as UN-AMERICAN at every opportunity!
RKP5637
(67,084 posts)Dont call me Shirley
(10,998 posts)n/t
Dems to Win
(2,161 posts)Younger, energetic, very smart.
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)One would hope that would put the fork to all the whining about Bernie not being strong enough on AA issues.
blm
(113,006 posts)Several DU members posted back then about the amount of travel time it was taking for them to get identification.
The fvckers are using Dept of Transportation to subvert democracy. They know NO LIMITS, do they?
Justice Dept should have stopped it back then.
SoapBox
(18,791 posts)Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)I'm interested to hear the Loretta Lynch response.
TRoN33
(769 posts)She's amazing. Her records have shown that she is a true fighter for all of Americans. Yes, even she is tolerant of ignorant and radical white people and still fought for their rights.
JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)Priorities
Omaha Steve
(99,489 posts)K&R!
OS
floriduck
(2,262 posts)bastard rethugs!! God forbid a black person should have a chance to get a license to register to vote for someone sane.
mwooldri
(10,299 posts).... the DMV office wouldn't handle license issuing in person at all.
Apart from driving tests, the UK driving licencing system is all online or by mail. Voter ID will also be by mail, as it is in Northern Ireland - though it's easy enough to get (worst case scenario is that an elected official has to vouch for you in writing).
But this is America. To renew your drivers license, you got to appear in person at an office. Closing DMV offices disenfranchises people from life, let alone voting.... especially in more rural areas where a vehicle is essential.
Tough voter ID requirements plus shutting down the facilities to get the ID is IMO disenfranchisement.
appalachiablue
(41,102 posts)Bravo!
bench scientist
(1,107 posts)yallerdawg
(16,104 posts)Including the words "impulsive" "ill-informed" "irresponsible"!
Basically - I paraphrase - "You should have asked me before you express your personal opinion."
This to a Congressional member.
I can't imagine why this 70-something-year-old-man just went through a divorce -- what could his ex-spouse of 50+ years have had a problem with?
http://governor.alabama.gov/assets/2015/10/Letter-to-Congresswoman-Terri-Sewell.pdf