Voters, League Prevail in Federal Voting Rights Case

Voters Win Major Civil Rights Challenge

Illegal Action Had Blocked Eligible Citizens from Registering, Voting

Washington, DC: The League of Women Voters has just won a major federal voting rights case. A federal appeals court blocked the illegal action of Brian Newby, U.S. Election Assistance Commission executive director, who earlier this year unilaterally allowed Alabama, Georgia and Kansas to require voters to produce difficult-to-obtain proof of citizenship documentation when completing the federal mail voter registration form. This action has illegally kept voters from the polls, caused confusion, and threatened the lawful voter registration efforts of the League and other groups.

“With just weeks to go before a critical presidential election, we are grateful to the court of appeals for stopping this thinly veiled discrimination in its tracks,” said Chris Carson, president of the League of Women Voters of the United States.

“We should be making voting easier, not harder. All eligible Americans deserve the opportunity to register and vote without obstacles.”

“With this ruling, League volunteers will be able to get back to what we do best: helping voters get registered and ready for Election Day,” concluded Carson.

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Contact: Maggie Bush 

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