Department is at the title to this entry, thank you.
...In a 25-page letter to the U.S. Department of Justice (click here) on Friday, the League of Women Voters of Florida, the Brennan Center for Justice, Democracia USA, and the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law urged the department to exercise its authority under the Voting Rights Act to the law, HB 1355, because, they say, it will make it harder for Floridians to vote. Meanwhile, the
The groups argue that the law imposes new barriers to voting, particularly on minority voters, in violation of the federal act. Their objections:
The groups argue that the law imposes new barriers to voting, particularly on minority voters, in violation of the federal act. Their objections:
1) The law will restrict the opportunity and ability of citizens and grassroots organizations to conduct voter registration drives by imposing burdensome and wholly unnecessary regulations and red tape;
2) The law will reduce the number of days in the state’s early voting period, and possibly cut early voting hours as well; and
3) The law will make it impossible for registered voters who have recently moved within Florida, from one county to another, to provide notice of their change of address on election day and still cast a regular ballot.
Under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, Florida must seek approval from the Justice Department or a panel of federal judges before implementing any changes to state election laws that affect the five counties in the state covered by Section 5 (Collier, Hardee, Hendry, Hillsborough, and Monroe).
The legislation mirrored similar laws introduced by Republicans in about 25 others states. Florida Republicans said it was needed to prevent voter fraud....
Minority groups have worked very hard over the years to organize and bring their communities to the voting booth. There is a movement in most states where Republicans dominate the state government to remove the Voter Registration access from these groups and more. The demand for an ID is sometimes costly to the poor and groups promoting their registration cannot afford to have all these people provided with Voter IDs.
What needs to happen, IF, there is to be elections that require IDs, then, those states need to provide VOTER ID CARDS at the time of registration.
Stringent laws that prove to be an obstacle to the electorate will have to be overcome BY THE STATE to provide the necessary ID or whatever requirements are needed. I believe a voter ID is allowed if there is rampant abuse of the process AND if the State or Local Government provides the necessary documents to facilitate the process at the voting booth. Follow? If a State or Local wants to SUPERSEDE the federal law OR the federal law changes to require documentation at the election booth, then the proper documents HAVE TO BE PROVIDED by the government enforcing the law.
Otherwise, the laws are simply discriminatory for absolutely no reason and are obstructing the election process to attempt to control it for a favored outcome. I state the Democrats should be moving on this, but, their races can be effected by the number turning out as well, so I do not believe there is a protected interest in facilitating fairness and efficiency. It is just that Democrats CARE about the people where the Republicans only give it lip service.
...Since its inception in 2004, (click here) DUSA has registered nearly half a million Hispanics to vote, expanding the size and power of the Latino electorate. Meanwhile, NCLR’s public policy component, which includes six issue-based policy-focused areas, has worked on issues ranging from immigration and health care reform to education, housing, and wealth-building. Throughout their existence, both organizations have worked not only to increase the Latino community’s participation within the country’s political process, but also to ensure that those issues important to Hispanics—such as job creation, safe communities, affordable housing, health care, education reform, and most importantly, immigration reform—are achieved.
“We are excited about the opportunity to grow NCLR’s civic engagement work by integrating DUSA into our ongoing advocacy work, so that we can register more Latino voters and help connect more Hispanics to the urgent public policy debates of our time,” said Eric Rodriguez, Vice President of NCLR’s Office of Research, Advocacy, and Legislation, where the new effort will be housed....
What I find really odd about the Republican initiative TO LEGISLATE HARDSHIP into the state's election laws is that normally Republicans want the Hispanic vote, especially in Presidential elections. Community groups need to seek non-profit monies to help with ID and transportation along with any other demands by the state and city. In other words overcome the reasons for voter suppression. Run fund drives and seek donations to made it happen.
DON'T WAIT FOR THE US JUSTICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THE SUPREME COURT IS CORRUPT ANYWAY.
What I find really odd about the Republican initiative TO LEGISLATE HARDSHIP into the state's election laws is that normally Republicans want the Hispanic vote, especially in Presidential elections. Community groups need to seek non-profit monies to help with ID and transportation along with any other demands by the state and city. In other words overcome the reasons for voter suppression. Run fund drives and seek donations to made it happen.
DON'T WAIT FOR THE US JUSTICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THE SUPREME COURT IS CORRUPT ANYWAY.
