Fighting Voter Suppression

“On Friday, the United States Department of Justice announced it will seek a trial regarding Florida’s controversial elections law overhaul, passed last year by the state Legislature. ... A court in Tallahassee is also currently considering a challenge to the law by the League of Women Voters of Florida, Rock the Vote, Florida PIRG, and others.”

“The skirmishing in Harrisburg over the last year on the bill that would require state-issued photo ID for practically all PA voters turns into a pitched battle on Monday with a committee vote scheduled and a series of actions by an opposition coalition designed to block final passage at the 11th hour.”

Florida Restricts Independent Voter Registration Drives
“... The state has imposed new rules restricting third-party voter registration drives, which are so onerous that Rock the Vote, the League of Women Voters and the Florida Public Interest Research Group Education Fund have had to suspend their volunteer-led programs.”
 

 “Last year, the Florida legislature passed a bill enacting requirements for groups conducting voter registration drives so onerous that even the League of Women Voters were forced to pull out of the state. Sensible individuals would see this episode as a cautionary tale. South Carolina legislators view it instead as a how-to guide.”
 

“... Elisabeth MacNamara, the president of the League of Women Voters of the United States, says, “The fact that this is being touted as a way of making the system more secure ... is just a false argument.”

 “This month, nearly 650 Berkeley County high school students registered to vote for the first time, thanks to the local chapter of the League of Women Voters. In Charleston County schools, the league signed up nearly 1,000 new 18-year-old voters. All of whom have proper ID, thank you very much.”
 

 “Over the opposition of voter reform groups, a state Senate committee on Tuesday embraced legislation requiring voters to show a picture ID at the polls ... Critics ranging from the League of Women Voters and the Civil Liberties Union to the state chapter of the Public Interest Research Group maintained the requirement is unnecessary and will discourage some people from voting..”
 

 “Wisconsin's new voter ID law is causing a lot of confusion. The rules regarding the voting process, voter registration and absentee voting have changed. When you add redistricting to the mix, things get downright chaotic. The Appleton League of Women Voters can help. Shirley Strange, president of the Appleton chapter, and Irene Strohbeen, the local director of voter services, discussed the issues Thursday in a Newsmakers interview at postcrescent.com.”
 

 “The League of Women Voters of Florida, with four lawsuits now in place against the actions of state legislators, prepped members at the Governors Club in Tallahassee Tuesday night, with a demonstration planned at the Capitol on Wednesday.”
 

 “A broad coalition of groups is battling a measure ... requiring Nebraska voters to show identification before casting ballots. Members of the coalition packed the Capitol Rotunda on Tuesday to protest in advance of first-round debate on the measure ... Larry Dix, executive director of the Nebraska Association of County Officials (NACO), said the bill is not needed.”