Federal Election Integrity Act of 2006

hmoroz — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 14:03:53 -0400

Legislation

The middle class

Opposes

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Estimated percentage of those eligible to vote who do not have official state identification, according to the National Commission on Federal Election Reform: 10

Percentage of persons aged 65 and older in Wisconsin who do not have a driver’s license or photo ID: 23

Proportion of African Americans in Louisiana who lack government-sanctioned photo identification, as compared to the state’s white residents: 4 to 5

Percentage of black males aged 18 to 24 with a driver’s license in Wisconsin: 22

Number of states that do not currently require all voters to show photo identification when voting whose laws would be preempted by the Federal Election Integrity Act: 47

Number of instances of ineligible persons voting or attempting to vote in a survey of over 9 million votes cast in 2002 and 2004 in Ohio: 4

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

Middle Class Opposes. Public policy has the potential to make a profound difference in the lives of low-income citizens aspiring to the middle class. Lacking the resources of the wealthy and powerful, voting is one of the few ways the aspiring middle class can hold their government accountable. Yet the burdensome requirements of the Federal Election Integrity Act threaten to disenfranchise these very citizens. The Act’s photo identification requirement would not only impose significant costs on the millions of individuals who would need to obtain new documentation to acquire photo IDs, but would disproportionately affect the low income, people of color, the elderly, and the homeless who more frequently lack driver’s licenses and state identification cards. In fact, the Brennan Center for Justice calls the photo identification requirement a modern-day poll tax because of the costs and resulting disenfranchisement associated with obtaining the photo identification.

Furthermore, the type of voter fraud that the Federal Election Integrity Act purports to prevent is exceedingly rare. The very few instances of individuals misrepresenting themselves at the polls – one survey found that this occurred just four times out of over 9 million votes cast – do not come close to justifying the disenfranchisement of the numerous, and already vulnerable, individuals who do not have official photo identification.

Quotes from Experts

Beyond this Bill

Additional Resources

“Voter ID,” from the Brennan Center for Justice

ACLU Letter to the House of Representatives Urging Opposition to the Federal Election Integrity Act

“Requirements for Voter Identification,” from the National Conference of State Legislatures

Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006

hmoroz — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 12:46:17 -0400

Legislation

The middle class

Supports

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Percentage of African Americans registered in Mississippi in 1964, before passage of the VRA: 10

Percentage of African Americans registered in Mississippi in 1968, after passage of the VRA: 60

Approximate number of African Americans in public office in 1964: 300

Minimum number of African American elected officials in 2006: 9,100

Number of states that currently contain jurisdictions subject to federal review of changes to voting rules under the VRA: 16

Number of local jurisdictions across 31 states that are covered by the language access provisions of the Voting Rights Act: 466

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

Middle Class Supports. The ability to vote without fear of discrimination and intimidation in all elections, from the local school board to mayor to state assembly, is a fundamental component of a middle-class standard of living necessary for holding public officials accountable. Protecting the votes of every aspiring middle-class and middle-class citizen ensures that their voices are heard on the issues that matter most to them. The Voting Rights Act is one of the most important civil rights acts and has been critical to ensuring that minorities achieve full enfranchisement and are represented by elected officials who will consider their issues, voice their concerns, and protect their interests. With passage of the Act, registration among African Americans jumped from 10 percent in 1964 to 60 percent in 1968 in Mississippi and from 24 percent to 57 percent in Alabama. The number of African Americans in public office has increased almost 3000 percent since the passage of the VRA. The number of Latino elected officials has increased from 1,200 in 1974 to 6,000 today.

But the Voting Rights Act has by no means solved the problem of electoral discrimination and intimidation for good. The provisions of the Act renewed by this legislation are essential to maintaining and improving access to the polls for all Americans. These provisions put the onus of protecting ordinary Americans at the polls on the federal government, rather than on individuals, who would otherwise be forced to pursue expensive lawsuits just to prove they have been discriminated against. Indeed, since the last reauthorization of the VRA in 1982, there have been more than 1,000 objections to changes to election rules considered to be discriminatory. The American Civil Liberties Union has compiled significant evidence that discrimination in elections is a present threat. The VRA’s protections against discriminatory electoral rules and its provision of election observers is a strong deterrent to discrimination and intimidation. Language assistance for citizens with limited English proficiency ensures that all Americans can understand often complex election rules and ballot initiatives, while allowing plaintiffs to recover expert fees in civil rights cases keeps the courts open to any voter who has been discriminated against.

Quotes from Experts

Beyond this Bill

Additional Resources

“Introduction To Federal Voting Rights Laws,” from the United States Department of Justice

“Promises to Keep: The Impact of the Voting Rights Act in 2006,” from the American Civil Liberties Union

“Voting Rights Act,” from FairVote

Voting

Federal Election Integrity Act of 2006

Legislation

The middle class

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

Related Blog: Header

Quotes from Experts

Related Blog: Text

Beyond this Bill

Related Blog: Link

Additional Resources

Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006

Legislation

The middle class

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

Related Blog: Header

Quotes from Experts

Related Blog: Text

Beyond this Bill

Related Blog: Link

Additional Resources