Rep. Keith Ellison: Introducing the Same Day Registration and Voter Access Protection Act

[kpete]

Rep. Keith Ellison
Co-Chair, Congressional Progressive Caucus

Introducing the Same Day Registration and Voter Access Protection Act

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This year, thirty-four state legislatures introduced bills requiring photo identification in order to vote. This rash of legislation classifies several previously accepted IDs as unacceptable, and will affect roughly 21 million Americans if they are passed. For the first time in our nation's history, we would shrink the voting franchise instead of expanding it.

These are solutions in search of a problem. Statistics show an infinitesimal number of proven voting fraud cases occurring in the United States. And these few cases have been successfully prosecuted like any other criminal offense.

Groups promoting these laws, such as the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), argue there's rampant voter fraud. Oddly enough this "fraud" seems to be occurring only within historically Democratic voting blocs like minorities and students. Yet ALEC and others have no problem squashing these groups' voting rights -- or the rights of elderly voters. Routinely issued student IDs won't be accepted in some states -- including my home state of Minnesota. The elderly, non-drivers, and millions of others will have to get identification. This sounds like a simple process, but imagine an 80-year-old grandmother, who has never driven and uses a wheelchair, going through the process of getting non-drivers ID. If her Social Security card is accepted identification for her benefits, why isn't it good enough to identify her for voting?

For these reasons, I am introducing two bills today to curb voter suppression. The Same Day Registration Act would require states to provide for same day voter registration for a federal election. The Voter Access Protection Act would make sure election officials cannot require photo identification in order to cast a vote or register to vote.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-keith-ellison/introducing-the-same-day_b_1071341.html

[ClassWarrior]

1. Thank you Rep. Ellison!!

NGU.

[Firebrand Gary]

2. That is real AMERICAN leadership.

A man of Muslim faith fights for what this country was founded upon. Democracy. This is what I love about this country.

[qb]

3. I am so proud of my representative.

:kick:

[MinneapolisMatt]

5. Me too!

:hi:

[geardaddy]

7. Me too!

:hi:

[valerief]

4. Love that guy! nt

[Ship of Fools]

6. Thank you! but good luck with that ...