Justice Department Fails Or Refuses To Stop Voter Intimidation

The election ‘will be meaningless if Americans are prevented from casting their votes and having them counted,’ says Sen. Leahy (D-VT). Justice Department Fails–Or Refuses–To Stop Voter IntimidationBy Cliff Montgomery – Sept. 12th, 2008The Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday conducted a hearing to examine how the Justice Department will protect the rights of every American voter during the general election this November.Of special interest may be the statement delivered by Judiciary panel Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT). The chairman provided a number of startling facts about recent voter intimidation which every American should know. has provided many of Chairman Leahy’s most telling points below:“The Committee today continues its crucial role overseeing the Department of Justice by examining the plans of the Civil Rights Division and Criminal Division to ensure that the voting rights of all Americans are protected in the upcoming national election.  Protecting the precious right to vote is one of the primary missions of the Justice Department.  “Today, less than two months from a presidential election, we examine the adequacy of the Department’s preparation to safeguard the rights of all Americans to vote and have their votes count. […]”For the past several months, our Nation has been engaged in a critical debate over the future direction of our country.  This national discussion will be meaningless if Americans are prevented from casting their votes and having them counted.  “Not only does the right to vote secure the effective exercise of all other rights, it also protects a basic principle of our democracy:  All American citizens deserve to have their voices heard in their government.  The government’s duty to ensure Americans’ fundamental right to vote should be above politics.”Yet, during the most recent mid-term elections, we witnessed partisan attempts to obstruct the path to the ballot box for political gain.  “In Arizona, we saw overt threats by armed vigilantes attempting to intimidate Hispanic-American voters at the polls.  “We witnessed cross burnings intended to intimidate African-American voters on the eve of an election in Louisiana.  “We also saw organized efforts in Maryland to deceive minority and low-income voters with false information about polling locations and phony endorsements.  “Two years after opening investigations into these incidents, we still await answers from the Justice Department on who will be held accountable for these organized efforts to suppress voters.  “We also know that photo ID laws have already disenfranchised voters this year.  In a committee hearing four months ago, Stanford Law Professor Pam Karlan informed us that ‘[t]here are already more nuns in Indiana that have been disenfranchised in one election than all the proven in-person vote fraud in Indiana history.’  “I remain disappointed that the acting head of the Civil Rights Division-–an institution long committed to expanding voter access-–asked the Nation’s High Court to uphold Indiana’s photo ID law, even though it will limit minority voters’ access to the ballot.”These observations come at a time when the Justice Department’s reputation has already been tarnished by revelations that it allowed politics to affect-–and infect-–the Department’s priorities, from law enforcement to the operation of the crucial Civil Rights Division.  On the brink of an important and historic presidential election, the American people deserve a Justice Department that will protect the right to vote without even a hint of partisanship.   “I [therefore] look forward to learning what preparation the Department has made in advance of Election Day to safeguard the right to vote.”[For instance], what is the Justice Department doing prior to Election Day to prevent [further] problems at the polls?  “During the recent re-authorization of the Voting Rights Act, we learned that the ongoing presence of discrimination in voting underscored the continued need for Federal oversight of elections.  “I hope today the Department will offer us more transparency on how many Federal observers and monitors it will use this November, where it plans to send them, and how it chooses where they go.  “I also look forward to hearing if the Department will consult and coordinate with civil rights organizations to identify potential voter suppression hotspots.”Like what you’re reading so far? Then why not order a full year (52 issues) of thee-newsletter for only $15? A major article covering an story not being told in the Corporate Press will be delivered to your email every Monday morning for a full year, for less than 30 cents an issue. Order Now!