THE UTAH AMICUS

Republicans Hurting, Not Helping on Voting Rights

Washington DC- Today as President Bush prepares for a Black History month event at the White House, an article in the New York Times reports that a recent study by a civil rights organization showed that minorities still face "unfair tactics and confusing rules" when attempting to vote.

The study concluded that the prevalence of nationwide discrimination at the polls shows the need to reauthorize the1965 Voting Rights Act. [New York Times 2/22/06] This news supports the Ohio report issued by Democrats after the 2004 election which found that African-American voters were twice as likely to wait in long lines at the polls than white voters. To combat these voting irregularities Democratic leaders have strongly advocated for renewal of the 1965 Voting Rights Act which has helped safeguard the rights of minority voters.

Instead of working to remove barriers, Republicans across America are pushing new voter identification rules and other obstacles to voting by citizens who are lawfully eligible to vote. These obstacles would disenfranchise millions of voters, including disproportionate numbers of minorities, rural voters, seniors, youth, and the disabled.

"Democrats want to make sure that all Americans are able to exercise the most fundamental right of our democracy, the right to vote," said Democratic National Committee Communications Director Karen Finney."Just recently in Louisiana, Democrats led the way on legislation to ensure that New Orleans residents displaced by Hurricane Katrina are able to cast their ballots and have their votes counted. Instead of continuing to erect barriers to the polls, Republicans should join Democrats in making it easier and not harder to exercise the right to vote."

How does this affect Utah? Take a look at an earlier post on SB200 that was brought to our attention by Nichole Adams Dunn from Mayor Peter Corroon's office (below).