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June 19, 2001
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TO:
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JCPA
Member Agencies |
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FROM:
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Ethan Felson,
Director, Domestic Concerns
Karen Senter, Co-Director for Domestic Concerns
Reva Price,
Washington Representative
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RE:
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The
"Equal Protection of Voting Rights Act" |
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SUMMARY
ISSUE
SUMMARY: The November 2000 election raised awareness across
the country of numerous flaws in our nation’s election procedures.
From technical and mechanical difficulties created by outdated
voting machines to charges of voter disenfranchisement caused
by incomplete voter lists, physical barriers to voting, and
other problems, there emerged a strong sense that many Americans
may have been denied their basic right to cast a vote and have
it counted.
Since the
election, legislators have introduced numerous bills and resolutions
designed to address these problems. However only one, the "Equal
Protection of Voting Rights Act" H.R.1170/ S. 565, introduced
by Congressman John Conyers (D-MI) and Senator Christopher Dodd
(D-CT), is comprehensive enough to address all the concerns
identified by the JCPA in its Resolution on Election Reform
adopted at the 2001 Plenum last February. The legislation currently
has 51 cosponsors in the Senate and 118 in the House.
ACTION
REQUESTED: Please urge your Members of Congress to co-sponsor
H.R. 1170/ S. 565, the "Equal Protection of Voting Rights
Act." Thank those who have already done so already and
ask them to help this bill become law.
For a
list of co-sponsors go to:
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BACKGROUND
The
"Equal Protection of Voting Rights Act" would:
- Provide resources
for uniform training of all election poll workers
- Ensure statewide
uniformity of voting procedures
- Launch an aggressive
voter education initiative so that all potential, new and existing
voters know how to make their voices heard
- Establish a
uniform standard for utilizating provisional ballots when a voter’s
registration status is at question on Election Day.
- Strengthen the
integrity of absentee ballots
- Establish procedures
for maintaining up-to-date voter rolls
- Establish clear
standards for the preparation of bilingual ballots
- Provide the
funding necessary to ensure that all changes and upgrades of voting
machinery can be implemented
- Require each
state to reexamine, simplify and standardize voter re-enfranchisement
laws
- Review charges
of voter intimidation, real and perceived, and ensure that districts
are in full compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the Voting
Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act, and the National
Voter Registration Act of 1993
For additional
talking points and background, see www.makeelectionsfair.org.
Next week, JCPA
will send an Election Reform Resource Guide that has been developed
by the Jewish Coalition on Voting Rights and Election Reform.
This coalition was convened by JCPA and Amos: The National Jewish Partnership
for Social Justice.
As always, please
contact the JCPA if you have questions or need more information
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