U. S. Attorney General Slams GOP Efforts to Bar Voters

Having just seen Russia go through a cycle of election fraud under Vladimir Putin's regime, it's easy to see where some in the GOP are getting their ideas from in terms of suppressing the vote of those you don't like (or who don't like you) - i.e., blacks, Hispanics, youth voters - so as to maximize friendly voters who can cast ballots. It's the antithesis of democracy, but something all too characteristic of today's Republican Party. If your policies stink and screw most voters, just keep those most screwed over away from the ballot box. To counter this GOP agenda item, U. S. Attorney General Eric Holder said he intends to fully enforce the civil rights laws. Here are highlights from a Washington Post story that looks at this issue:

Attorney General Eric Holder vowed Tuesday to fully enforce civil rights protections in next year’s elections amid a flurry of activity by states to redraw political boundaries and impose requirements that could reduce voting by minorities who enthusiastically supported Barack Obama in the 2008 election.

Giving his most expansive speech on civil rights since taking office, the nation’s chief law enforcement officer declared that “we need election systems that are free from fraud, discrimination and partisan influence — and that are more, not less, accessible to the citizens of this country.”

Currently, the Justice Department is reviewing new requirements in Texas and South Carolina requiring voters to produce a photo ID before casting ballots. The department also is examining changes that Florida has made to its electoral process — imposing financial penalties on third-party voter registration organizations like the League of Women Voters when they miss deadlines and shortening the number of days in the early voting period before elections.

Most of the changes have been promoted and approved by Republicans, who argue they are needed to avert voter fraud. Democrats, citing studies suggesting there is little voter fraud, say the measures are actually aimed at reducing minority votes for their candidates.

“Over the years, we’ve seen all sorts of attempts to gain partisan advantage by keeping people away from the polls — from literacy tests and poll taxes, to misinformation campaigns telling people that Election Day has been moved, or that only one adult per household can cast a ballot,” said Holder.

“The most recent census data indicated that Texas has gained more than 4 million new residents — the vast majority of whom are Hispanic,” said Holder. “However, this state has proposed adding zero additional seats in which Hispanics would have the electoral opportunity envisioned by the Voting Rights Act.”

In September, the Justice Department’s civil rights division said it needed the racial breakdown and counties of residence of the estimated 605,500 registered voters in Texas who do not have a state-issued license or ID. The division also asked how many of voters have Spanish surnames. Under the federal Voting Rights Act, the new Texas law needs Justice Department approval to take effect.