Lawyers' Committee Resources to Combat Disenfranchising Legislation
Legislation that would require voters to produce photo identification at the polls is popping up in many states across the country. These bills create new hurdles to the ballot box that are especially high for low income and minority voters who may not have the resources to get a qualifying photo ID. These voter ID bills are a solution in search of a problem and will only serve to disenfranchise eligible voters. The Lawyers' Committee and our Election Protection and Voter ID Strikeforce partners have been working tirelessly to help protect voters' rights against disenfranchising photo ID and omnibus voting bills that state legislators have been proposing across the nation.
Despite our best efforts in reaching out to lawmakers, these bills are becoming law in some states. It is crucial that we effectively educate voters, poll workers, and election officials about these new laws and do everything in our power to ensure that the worst case scenarios for voters don't come true.
Below is a suite of national and state-specific resources the Lawyers' Committee has used in the fight against these bills. Select a category to jump to the related documents below.
Resources | Testimony | Letters | Litigation
Resources
The following webpages and documents have been compiled by the Lawyers' Committee and coalition partners to help educate the public in the fight against disenfranchising legislation.
Map of Shame - The Assault on Voting: Voter ID Laws, Legislation by State (updated 7-25)
Deceptive Election Practices and Voter Intimidation: The Need for Voter Protection
The Challenge of Obtaining Voter Identification
Talking Points on Voter ID Bills
National and State Coalition Resources to Combat Photo ID Bills
The Law Regarding Voting Photo Identification Laws
Identification Requirements for Voting and Registration in Your State
The Case Against Florida House Bill 1355
Testimony
The Lawyers' Committee has given the following testimony before state law makers considering disenfranchising legislation.
Testimony before the Florida Senate Budget Committee on Senate Bill 2086
Testimony Before the Ohio House State Government and Elections Committee on House Bill 159
Testimony Before the Ohio Senate Government Oversight and Reform Committee on Senate Bill 148
Testimony Before the Pennsylvania House State Government Committee on House Bill 934
Testimony Before the Wisconsin Assembly against Assembly Bill 7
Letters
The Lawyers' Committee has take the lead on organizing coalition letters sent to state legislatures in the fight against disenfranchising legislation.
Letter to Congress Regarding HR 672
Letter to Congress from the Leadership Conference Regarding HR 672
Coalition Letter to New Hampshire Governor Lynch Regarding SB 129
Letter to Missouri Governor Jay Nixon Regarding SB 3
Letter to the Missouri House Elections Committee Regarding Hearing on HJR14 and HB329
Letter to the Rhode Island Senate Judiciary Committee on SB400
Letter to Ohio Speaker Batchelder and Senate President Niehaus on SB 148 and HB 194
Letter to the Montana Senate State Administration Committee Regarding Hearing on HB 152
Letter to Montana Governor Schweitzer in opposition to HB 180 and HB 152
Letter to Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton Opposing SF 509/HF 210
Litigation
The Lawyers' Committee has been active in litigation surrounding voter ID bills that have been signed into law.
South Carolina v. United States
