Expanding Voter Access

“Our election system is literally awash in money, and the 2012 election will again shatter all spending records. The amount of money from wealthy special interests, millionaires and billionaires coursing through the Wisconsin recall election and the presidential election corrodes public faith in our democracy.”

“Government and politics teacher Dawn Quarles' voice goes tight with frustration when she thinks back to how trying to register her students to vote thrust her into the center of Florida's high profile and deeply partisan voting rights controversy. ... ‘I never felt like the voting process was on my side... That's not the way it's supposed to be,’ said Quarles, a registered Republican who was slapped with a $1,000 fine...”

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, Campaign Finance Experts, John Zogby Address Delegates

League is “Fiercely Committed” to Nation’s Voters, says Holder

As I wrote earlier this week, I was in Wisconsin on Tuesday to observe the recall election. It was a long day, but very exciting to bear witness to democracy at work.

“House Democratic Leader Terie Norelli, D-Portsmouth, called it a ‘voter suppression’ bill. Other critics, such as the League of Women Voters-NH, have said it will unfairly affect the poor, the elderly and minorities in the state.”

“The League of Women Voters chose Maine and Tennessee as the only states where the ads will run, believing senators in the two states are ‘key actors’ in congressional decisions on campaign finance laws, said Elisabeth McNamara, league president, in a news release.”

“Wisconsin’s League of Women Voters also reported ‘widespread’ problems with the residency law at polling places across the state, according to Executive Director Andrea Kaminski. ... Carolyn Castore, the League’s election coordinator, stressed that students could claim their parents’ residency to be their home if they have not registered at their Madison address, a stipulation she claimed several polling officials had overlooked.”

“The Minnesota Supreme Court plans to move quickly in determining whether to change or quash a constitutional amendment on voter ID before it appears on the November ballot. The court has ordered oral arguments for July 17, an expedited schedule that would allow it to order changes to the ballot question before the November election.”

“...the League of Women Voters of Florida and Rock the Vote will get back to work registering voters, the groups announced Wednesday. ... ‘Failure was never an option in this battle against voter suppression,’ said LWVF President Deirdre Macnab. ‘Now it’s time for our volunteers to work overtime to make up for lost ground.’”