Thread: Groups say states violating voter registration law

Groups say states violating voter registration law

Posted 4m ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — States across the country are violating part of the federal "motor voter" law requiring voter registration help for low-income residents, according to a coalition of advocacy groups trying to force change through the courts.

The groups filed a lawsuit in Indiana Thursday and planned to sue in New Mexico later in the day, on the heels of a successful settlement in Missouri. They say the problem is not isolated in those few states, but widespread across the nation and they are trying to help other states follow the law without litigation.

Brenda Wright, director of the Democracy Program at the nonprofit group Demos, one of the groups behind the lawsuits, said 2.6 million people were registered through public assistance offices in 1995-1996, the first two years the law was in effect. But she said registration has dropped precipitously throughout the nation since then, as much as 90% or more in some states.

Wright said 2 million to 3 million more low-income people could be registered each year if all states followed the law.

The suits say that the states are violating the 1993 National Voter Registration Act, commonly known as "motor voter" because it requires states to offer voter registration when residents are applying for a driver's license or state ID. To reach low-income citizens who are less likely to own vehicles, the law also requires that voter registration be distributed along with applications for public assistance such ase food stamps and Medicaid.

The coalition of advocacy groups, which also includes the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, Project Vote and the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, say most states have programs for driver's license registration, but many are ignoring the public assistance requirement.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington ... suit_N.htm

Could it be that there are a lot of people on public assistance that are not entitled to vote? Voting is a priviledge of citizenship.

"The coalition of advocacy groups, which also includes the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now"

YEAH, ACORN, GO FIGURE!!!!!

the law also requires that voter registration be distributed along with applications for public assistance such ase food stamps and Medicaid.

I'll bet every IA here in NYC that gets food stamps fraudulently or for an Anchor Baby is registered to vote!!!

My neighbor is unemployed and recently went to a low cost medical clinic that gets taxpayer money to help poor people. One of the questions on the office sign in form was,
"Have you registered for amnesty?"

He didn't say anything about it to them because he didn't want to get thrown out because he can't afford to go elsewhere.

Originally Posted by JohnDoe2

[b]My neighbor is unemployed and recently went to a low cost medical clinic that gets taxpayer money to help poor people. One of the questions on the office sign in form was,
"Have you registered for amnesty?"

Exactly what are they talking about? An illegal alien amnesty? There is no registration for one yet.

Originally Posted by Bowman

Originally Posted by JohnDoe2

[b]My neighbor is unemployed and recently went to a low cost medical clinic that gets taxpayer money to help poor people. One of the questions on the office sign in form was,
"Have you registered for amnesty?"

Exactly what are they talking about? An illegal alien amnesty? There is no registration for one yet.

My understanding from talking to local people is that pro-amnesty groups are having illegal aliens fill out their forms now so that they can be turned in on day one if/when and amnesty comes through.