Press Release - People For the American Way
People For the American Way Foundation Investigates Voter Purge Concerns in Ohio
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 20, 2006
Stacey Gates, Josh Glasstetter
202-467-4999
People For the American Way Foundation (PFAWF) today investigated concerns raised by activists that an 11th-hour purge of eligible voters in Ohio could result from mailings sent out by county election officials. While it appears that fears of a purge are unfounded, the incident does emphasize the need for continued voter education, and vigilance in voter advocacy and protection as the November elections loom.
Over the past few days, Internet commentators have raised concerns that certain voters in Ohio might be removed from the voter rolls if mailings sent to them by their county election officials are returned as undelivered. Given the Secretary of State's history of supporting and engaging in voter suppression strategies, citizen vigilance is necessary and commendable. In this particular case, though, county election officials have confirmed to PFAWF that under Ohio law, even voters whose mailings are returned will be permitted to vote a regular ballot if they show the proper ID at the polls. Of course that's if poll workers are properly trained.
Precisely to help avoid problems and to foster full participation, People For the American Way Foundation has prepared a brief mailing carefully explaining the Ohio voter ID rules and the proper forms of identification, which is being sent to many thousands of Ohio voters. The mailing can be found at
http://media.pfaw.org/ep/OH_Flier.pdf."We are working to make sure that Ohio voters have the best information possible in order to cast a vote that counts this Election day," said Ralph G. Neas, PFAWF president. "The past two elections have shaken the confidence of the electorate in our system. We must do everything we can to restore voter confidence and bring them to the polls in overwhelming numbers."
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http://www.civilrights.org/issues/voting/details.cfm?id=47990Why You Should CareThe basis and foundation of our democratic form of government is the right to vote. Voting is one of the most important tools Americans have to influence the policies the government adopts. Unfortunately, many Americans are effectively denied their right to vote.
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* Discriminatory voting practices continue to exist. Today, these usually take the form of creative methods of establishing districts that dilute the voting power of minority groups. Establishing unusually large voting districts in areas with a geographical concentration of certain minority groups can discriminate against those groups by burying them within a larger white voting majority. This dilutes the voting power of minority groups that could otherwise constitute an influential voting bloc. Smaller districts can also be drawn in such a way that the voting power of a minority group is diluted by dividing a geographical concentration of minorities into several districts that are predominantly white. Minority voting power may also be diluted by encompassing an extremely large minority group into one district, rather than allowing that group to have an influence over several districts.
* 1.4 million African-American men (13% of the entire adult African-American male population) are denied the right to vote because they served time in prison. In five states, including Florida, one quarter of male adult African-Americans are disenfranchised.
* 14 states disenfranchise former inmates for life.
* 32 states disenfranchise former inmates while on parole.
* 29 states disenfranchise former inmates on probation.
* In addition to this, many former inmates who live in states where they can vote again are not aware of the process to regain the right. They also may not even be aware that there is no process in the state they reside.
* Among eligible voters, faulty voting booths and flawed voting procedures often result in uncounted or improperly counted ballots on election day. The November 2000 elections raised yet a new set of concerns about minority voting rights. Across America, voters - especially minority voters - reported that they had been effectively denied the franchise in a variety of ways. These included allegations that minority voters faced a significantly greater risk that their votes would not be counted accurately because of the disproportionate use of outdated and inaccurate equipment in minority neighborhoods. Asian American, Haitian American, Latino, and other language minority voters reported that they were denied language assistance to which they were entitled. Eligible minority voters reported that they had been inappropriately "purged" from voting lists. Moreover, many jurisdictions use equipment that is inaccessible to voters with disabilities.
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http://www.civilrights.org/issues/voting/care.htmlStatus UpdateHow are my representatives voting on this issue?
June 23, 2004
Members of Congress debated four proposals for expanding District of Columbia voting rights. The district's non-voting delegate, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, continued to support full D.C. voting rights, as detailed in her "No Taxation Without Representation Act of 2003." Representative Ralph Regula, R-Ohio, supported the "District of Columbia-Maryland Reunion Act," a plan which would retrocede the District of Columbia to Maryland for voting and other purposes, while maintaining Congressional control over the National Capital Service Area. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif., sponsored the "District of Columbia Voting Rights Restoration Act of 2004," which would allow D.C. residents to participate as Maryland residents only in Congressional elections. Government Reform Committee Chairman Tom Davis, R-Va., supported the compromise "D.C. FAIR Act," which would head incrementally toward full voting rights by providing D.C. with one voting representative, while simultaneously giving Utah another representative in the House.
April 14, 2004
The Federal Election Commission heard testimony regarding new rules for groups called 501(c)(3)s and 501(c)(4)s that are tax-exempt and engage in political activities, often through unlimited "soft money" contributions. Critics charge that, if enacted, these new rules could harm the activities of groups across the political spectrum and restrict free speech in ways that their supporters call unhealthy to democracy.
August 13, 2003
A federal judge in California allowed the state's Oct. 7 recall election to be held as planned, rejecting arguments by the American Civil Liberties Union that punch-card ballots at polling stations were too defective to accurately register votes. According to the ACLU, as many as 8 million voters, most of whom are minorities, would have to use the ballot machines with punch-card technology - the same technology used in contested Florida counties during the 2000 presidential election.
April 15, 2003
D.C. Vote, Washington DC Mayor Anthony Williams, the City Council and other esteemed community leaders called national attention to the issue of taxation without representation at the "2003 D.C. Voting Rights Day Rally." During the previous year's event, hundreds of activists destroyed their 2002 federal income tax forms in Washington, D.C.'s Farragut Square to protest the District's lack of representation in Congress.
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http://www.civilrights.org/issues/voting/status_report.html