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Lawyers'
Committee for Civil
Rights Under Law
1401 New York Avenue, NW
Suite 400
Washington, DC 20005
For
Immediate Release
Contacts:
Kim Alton
(202) 662-8600
January
31,
2007
Lawyers'
Committee Applauds Obama and Schumer Bill to Prevent
Voter Intimidation and Deceptive Practices
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, the Lawyers' Committee
for Civil Rights announces their support for the Deceptive
Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of
2007, and applauds the efforts of Senators Barack
Obama and Chuck Schumer who introduced the bill.
Forty years after the passage of the Voting Rights
Act, Americans continue to be targets of deceptive
practices and intimidation as they attempt to cast
a ballot. Since 2004, the Lawyers' Committee, the
lead legal organization in the Election Protection
Coalition, has collected reports of deceptive practices
or voter intimidation from more than 30 states.
“It is outrageous that in 2007 Americans continue
to be the subject of intimidation and deception as
they attempt to exercise their most fundamental right.
These attempts prevent the will of the voters from
determining election outcomes and undermine the greatness
of our democratic process,” said Barbara R. Arnwine,
Executive Director of the Lawyers' Committee. “This
bill is a critically important step towards ridding
the country of these despicable practices that threaten
the integrity of our election system.”
The counsel and experience of the Lawyers' Committee's
National Campaign for Fair Elections and the Election
Protection Coalition were critical to demonstrating
the compelling need for this important bill and for
shaping the most effective response to this essential
challenge.
Barbara Arnwine with Senators Cardin,
Obama, and Schumer.
Barbara Arnwine and Senator Obama.
Barbara Arnwine at the podium.
For more information, please visit www.nationalcampaignforfairelections.org.
For NY Times article, click here.
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The Lawyers' Committee is a nonpartisan, nonprofit
civil rights organization, formed in 1963 at the request
of President John F. Kennedy to provide legal services
to address racial discrimination.
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