News Clips
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Blog
Who Pays for the Parties?
| Elisabeth MacNamaraEditorial Note: This piece was first published as part of the Huffington Post's Shadow Convention discussion on money in politics and on my Huffington Post blog.
The growing influence of money in politics threatens to corrupt our representative form of government, where the people – through their votes – are supposed to make the decisions.
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Blog
Texas voter photo ID law struck down
| KellyGreat news today for all Texas voters. A U.S. Federal District Court found that the Texas voter photo identification law violates Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. National League President Elisabeth MacNamara remarked, "The importance of this case cannot be overstated: It is a landmark decision for voting rights in America and helps ensure America’s elections treat all citizens equally, and are free, fair and accessible.”
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Press Release
THREE-JUDGE PANEL STRIKES DOWN VOTER PHOTO ID LAW IN TEXAS
| KellyCourt agrees with League of Women Voters and Department of Justice
Voter Photo ID is discriminatory
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Press Release
LWV of South Carolina Urges Court to Reject Restrictive Voter ID Law
| KellyWashington, D.C. (March 27, 2012) – The League of Women Voters of South Carolina urged a federal district court to reject the state’s restrictive voter ID law, arguing the law erects unnecessary barriers to voting and could disenfranchise thousands of minority voters.
The League, which is seeking to intervene in South Carolina v. Holder, is represented by the Brennan Center for Justice, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and pro bono by the law firms Sullivan & Cromwell LLP and Derfner, Altman & Wilborn LLC.
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Press Release
LWV of Texas and Partners Seek to Block Texas' Discriminatory Photo ID Law
| KellyLWV-TX, ACLU and ACLU of Texas, Advancement Project, Texas Legislative Black Caucus and Civil Rights Activists Seek to Block Texas’ Discriminatory Photo ID Law
Lawsuit Will Defend Constitutionality of the Voting Rights Act and Protect Minorities’ Right to Vote
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Blog
Voting, the most fundamental right in a democracy
| Kelly"Unfortunately, there are still those who view voting as a privilege rather than the most fundamental right in a democracy. While the U.S. Constitution does not specifically guarantee a general right to vote, that right is implicit in the very existence of the Constitution," An article from Loop21, The Battle of Voter ID Bills, takes a look at the debate over voter ID bills from the perspective of whether voting is a privilege or a right.
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Big wins for voters' rights in Wisconsin, Texas
| KellyAfter many months of assault on voting rights in states around the country, it was nice to get good news this week with two important wins for voters in Wisconsin and Texas. Voters in these two states woke up today knowing that they will all be able to vote and have their votes counted in the upcoming elections.
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Press Release
League Applauds DOJ and Court Actions Protecting Voter Rights in Texas and Wisconsin
| KellyWashington, DC (March 13, 2012) - “After many months of assault on voting rights in states around the country, the League of Women Voters (LWV) lauds two decisions on Monday that will protect all eligible voters in Wisconsin and Texas and ensure that they are able to vote and have their votes counted in the upcoming elections,” said Elisabeth MacNamara, President of the League of Women Voters of the United States. “These decisions are important statements about efforts that could impact eligible voters in many others states.”
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BIG win for Wisconsin Voters!
| KellyToday, a Dane County Circuit Court Judge found the Wisconsin voter ID law unconstitutional. The case, brought by the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, is a big win for all Wisconsin voters. “Voting is not like cashing a check or getting on an airplane. Those activities are not protected by the constitution. Voting is one way in which all citizens are equal, and that is worth fighting for," Melanie Ramey, state president. Read the full statement here.