We've registered more than 100,000 voters this fall. But registering voters is just half the battle. As we’ve seen in the last few elections, neglect, incompetence or outright abuse can disenfranchise voters. This election will repeat the pattern unless we take action.
One problem that pops up time and again—especially in poor and minority communities—is outrageously long lines at the polls. Franklin County, Ohio was a perfect example in 2004. Tanya Thivner, from a majority black neighborhood, waited four hours to vote—and then found out that it took her mother, who lives in the white suburbs, all of 15 minutes to cast her ballot. This wasn’t an isolated incident.
And worse than that are the deliberate schemes to suppress voters, like we saw in 2004. From letters to voters in Pittsburgh telling them Election Day had been moved to November 3rd to voters in South Carolina being told they would serve 10 years in prison -- and have their children taken away -- if they had unpaid parking tickets and tried to vote, we saw some nasty and cynical ploys to trick or block voters. (You can use this link to view PDF copies of some of the worst of these flyers).
Already, as we draw closer to Election Day, examples of voter
suppression are emerging this year. The Chairman of the Republican
Party in Macomb County, Michigan announced plans to kick citizens while
they’re down. James Carabelli told a blog reporter that he plans to
challenge the right to vote of anyone living in a foreclosed home. In
the face of widespread outrage, he has since denied the plans.
These are
just two high-profile examples. Unfortunately, past experience tells us there will be more
to come. Use the links at the right to find out more, take action or volunteer your time to help us make sure that every vote counts on November 4.
More on vote suppression
We've received reports of vote
suppression tactics from nearly every battleground state, including:
* In Colorado
and other states, election officials are purging voter lists in apparent
violation of federal law.
* In Colorado,
the El Paso County clerk's office misled Colorado College students into thinking
they were ineligible to vote.
* In Virginia,
Republican officials have spread similar misinformation among college students
about their rights to vote.
* In Florida,
a piece mailed to state Democrats, paid for by the Republican National Committee
and authorized by Sen. McCain, says "We have you registered as a Republican" and
includes a fake registration number.
* Also in Florida,
election law changes could lead to massive Election Day challenges, earning the
state the dishonor of being named "the most hostile state in the nation for new
voters" by three voting rights groups.
* In Wisconsin,
J.B. Van Hollen, Wisconsin's attorney general and state co-chair of John
McCain's campaign, has filed a lawsuit that threatens to toss thousands of newly
registered (and legitimate) voters off the rolls before Election Day.
*
In several
states, the McCain campaign has sent voters absentee ballot requests
addressed to the wrong election officials.
* In many
states, officials are conducting arbitrary purges of legitimate voters
that are "vulnerable to manipulation" according to independent
studies.
Click here to take action.
We can stop them
When we and others learned about
a GOP plan to challenge Michigan voters whose homes are being foreclosed, the
resulting media attention, litigation and public outcry forced Republican
officials to renounce the tactic — and might have cost John McCain voter support
in the state.
A similar uproar recently forced Montana Republican
officials to withdraw thousands of arbitrary challenges of voters in
predominantly Democratic counties.
More on what you can do
1. Sign our petition
2. Check
your voter registration status. Click here for help: http://www.866ourvote.org/state/
3.
If you're vote is challenged on Election Day, do not take no for an answer.
Insist on your right to vote and cast a provisional vote if necessary.
4. For
legal help, call 1-866-OUR-VOTE.
