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| Voting Right Act - 1965 |
Update: Sen. Dave Hansen; Confusion, Voter Suppression Law Obstruct Green Bay Voters.
The fact is right now: Before you can vote in Wisconsin you need to present a proof of residency and fill out a multi-question application to register to vote.
You need to attest you are who you say you are, are not a felon on probation or parole, are a U.S. citizen, among other questions answered under penalty of federal law.
So, this being the case, how is the massive, GOP-claimed voter fraud occurring?
It's not, and the Voter ID law [set to take effect in Wiscosnin next Spring] is just a way to make it more difficult to vote with the objective of suppressing the votes of Democratically leaning voters.
It's possible U.S. Attorney General Holder will actually do something about the voter suppression as a violation of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 [renewed on July 27, 2006 for 25 years as signed into law by Pres. George W. Bush, with the powerful support from House Judiciary Committee Chairman F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr.].
On June 29, 2011 Sen. Herb Kohl along with 18 other U.S. senators signed a letter to AG Holder expressing concerns about highly restrictive photo identification requirements under consideration or already signed into law in several states, including Wisconsin.
Sen. Ron Johnson did not sign the letter. No Republican senators signed the letter.
The Honorable Eric Holder
Attorney General
United States Department of Justice
Robert F. Kennedy Building
950 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.
Washington, DC 20530
Dear Attorney General Holder:
We are writing to express our concerns about highly restrictive photo identification requirements under consideration or already signed into law in several states. These measures have the potential to block millions of eligible American voters without addressing any problem commensurate with this kind of restriction on voting rights. Studies have shown that as high as 11% of eligible voters nationwide do not have a government-issued ID. This percentage is higher for seniors, racial minorities, low-income voters and students. Voting is the foundation of our democracy, and we urge you to protect the voting rights of Americans by using the full power of the Department of Justice to review these voter identification laws and scrutinize their implementation.
Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act vests significant authority in the Department to review laws before they are implemented in covered jurisdictions. As you know, the burden of proof in this preclearance process is on those covered jurisdictions, which must be able to show that legal changes will not have a discriminatory impact on minority voters. New photo identification laws, for instance, must be subjected to the highest scrutiny as states justify these new barriers to participation. In Section 5 jurisdictions, whenever photo identification legislation is considered, the Department should closely monitor the legislative process to track any unlawful intent evinced by the proceedings.
Restrictive photo identification requirements are also being considered or have passed in states and jurisdictions that are not covered by Section 5. The Department should exercise vigilance in overseeing whether these laws are implemented in a way that discriminates against protected classes in violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Additionally, federal civil rights law - 42 U.S.C. 1971(a)(2)- prohibits different standards, practices or procedures from being applied to individuals within a jurisdiction. We believe the Department should ensure that these photo identification laws do not violate this statute or other federal voting rights statutes.
Highly restrictive photo identification requirements at the polls can make it more difficult for well-intentioned voters to cast their ballots, and as far as America's civil rights trajectory is concerned, that sort of effect takes America in the wrong direction. We urge you to exercise your authority to examine these laws so that voting rights are not jeopardized. We also request that you brief us on the efforts the Department is undertaking to ensure these new laws are implemented in accordance with the Voting Rights Act.
Thank you for your work protecting the civil rights of all Americans.
Michael F. Bennet, United States Senator
Harry Reid, United States Senator
Dick Durbin, United States Senator
Charles E. Schumer, United States Senator
Patty Murray, United States Senator
Jeanne Shaheen, United States Senator
Mary Landrieu, United States Senator
Benjamin L. Cardin, United States Senator
Sherrod Brown, United States Senator
Mark Begich, United States Senator
Jeff Merkley, United States Senator
Kirsten E. Gillibrand, United States Senator
Ron Wyden, United States Senator
Tom Harkin, United States Senator
Tom Udall, United States Senator
Herb Kohl, United States Senator
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