Press Releases
- January 31, 2012 Federal Court Delivers Important Ruling in National Voter Registration Act Lawsuit In a strongly worded order handed down yesterday, U.S. District Judge Charles A. Pannell, Jr. denied a motion to dismiss a lawsuit brought by a coalition of voting rights groups to remedy the State of Georgia's failure to provide voter registration services at public assistance offices, as required by Section 7 of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA).
- January 27, 2012 Lawyers' Committee Submits Testimony for Critical Voting Rights Hearing in Florida The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law commends Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Bill Nelson (D-FL) for taking steps to address the importance of protecting the right to fully participate in our democracy for all Americans, especially vulnerable and traditionally disenfranchised persons. The Lawyers' Committee submitted formal testimony for today's Senate Committee on the Judiciary's Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights hearing, "New State Voting Laws II: Protecting the Right to Vote in the Sunshine State."
- January 17, 2012 Election Protection to Provide Primary Election Assistance to Voters in Florida With the Florida Primary less than three weeks away, and several changes to state election law, Election Protection, the nation's largest nonpartisan voter protection coalition, led by the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, stands ready to help Florida voters. Highly trained volunteers are available now through Primary Election Day, January 31st, to assist voters with any questions or problems, no matter how simple or complex. Voters may call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683) toll-free with any questions or issues that may arise on Election Day. This English language hotline will be staffed live from 6 a.m. - 8 p.m. EST on Primary Election Day. Spanish-speaking voters may seek assistance through the 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA (1-888-839-8682) hotline.
- January 06, 2012 Pulling Back the Curtain on Mississippi’s Voter ID Initiative Today, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law releases an analysis of the vote on Initiative 27, Mississippi’s voter identification amendment, which found that despite its passage by the majority of voters in the November 8, 2011 election, more than 75% of the state’s minority population voted to reject the requirement to show photo ID when voting.
- December 23, 2011 Lawyers' Committee Applauds DOJ Ruling Blocking SC Voter ID Law The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law praised the decision by the U.S. Department of Justice today to block a South Carolina law that would have prevented registered voters from casting ballots at the polls on Election Day unless they have government-approved photo identification.
- December 14, 2011 Lawyers’ Committee Strongly Supports Cardin-Schumer Bill to Prohibit Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation The Lawyers’ Committee praises Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Charles Schumer (D-NY) for reintroducing updated legislation to generate tough new criminal and civil penalties for those who create and distribute false and deceptive voting information and campaign literature. This critical legislation will help reduce the “real fraud” that is occurring in our election system and therefore increase voter confidence in our democratic process. All too often, deceptive practices are utilized by those who seek to circumvent the will of the people for their own selfish political or monetary gain. These kinds of practices are undemocratic and unconstitutional. We strongly support Senators Cardin and Schumer for taking a strong stance against the kinds of fraud that plague our election system today.
- December 13, 2011 Lawyers' Committee Commends Holder's Call to Action to Address Restrictive Voting Laws and Modernize Our Elections “The Lawyers’ Committee commends U.S. Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. for exercising leadership in speaking out against suppressive voting laws sweeping the nation,” said Executive Director Barbara Arnwine. “The fundamental right to vote and choose our leaders is at the heart of what it means to be American and participate in our democracy. As General Holder so eloquently stated, it’s time to enact real solutions to the real problems impacting our elections to create a truly accessible democracy for all Americans.”
- December 09, 2011 Civil Rights Groups Again Ask Government to Block South Carolina Voter ID Law A coalition of civil rights and advocacy groups has repeated their request that the U.S. Department of Justice block a South Carolina law that would prevent registered voters from casting ballots at the polls on Election Day unless they have government-approved photo identification. The groups, including the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, the American Civil Liberties Union and the American Civil Liberties Union of South Carolina, argued that the law would disproportionately affect minority voters and thus would suppress the minority vote.
- November 16, 2011 Lawyers' Committee and Partners Press Department of Justice to Block New Texas Voter ID Law The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, the Brennan Center for Justice, and the Texas State Conference of the NAACP today urged the U.S. Department of Justice to use its authority under the Voting Rights Act to block implementation of Texas’s new voter ID law, S.B. 14.
- November 08, 2011 Non-Partisan Election Protection Coalition Provided Assistance to Voters across Ohio, Mississippi, Virginia, and Pennsylvania on Election Day The Election Protection (EP) Hotline, 1-866-OUR VOTE (1-866-687-8683), operating live on Election Day 2011 from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., fielded over three thousand calls from voters seeking information and assistance from states across the nation. Overall during this election cycle the hotline fielded approximately five thousand calls. EP also had field programs in Ohio and Pennsylvania and Virginia. Overall problems highlight the need for election officials to do a better job providing information to voters when moving or consolidating polling locations and assistance available at the polling place.
- September 21, 2011 Lawyers’ Committee Applauds Court Decision Upholding Section 5, a Vital Provision of the Voting Rights Act Today, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia upheld the constitutionality of a key provision of the Voting Rights Act against a challenge by Shelby County, Alabama, a largely-white suburb of Birmingham. The court ruled that Congress acted appropriately when it reauthorized the preclearance requirement of Section 5 in 2006. The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law intervened in the case to defend Section 5, representing Bobby Lee Harris, a Shelby County resident and a former member of the Alabaster, Alabama city council.
- September 14, 2011 Justice Dept. Urged to Reject New Texas Voter ID Restrictions, Groups Argue Changes Disproportionately Harm Minority Voting Strength The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights under Law, the Brennan Center for Justice, and the Texas State Conference of the NAACP submitted a joint letter to the Department of Justice today, relying on extensive statistical evidence to show that Texas’ newly-passed voter ID restrictions will disproportionately harm minority voting rights in the state.
- September 09, 2011 Lawyers' Committee and Partners File in Court to Stop Anti-Voter Restrictions in Florida On September 9th, the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) and the League of Women Voters of Florida, organizations that work to encourage and promote civic engagement among Florida voters filed an intervention motion in federal court in Washington, D.C. to oppose controversial new restrictions on voting and voter registration imposed by a new Florida law, known as H.B. 1355. The groups argue the law will erect unnecessary barriers to voting and voter registration and will disproportionately harm Florida’s minority voters. The two groups are represented by attorneys with the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law and the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, working in partnership with pro bono counsel from leading law firm Bryan Cave LLP.
- August 25, 2011 Lawyers' Committee and Partners Settle Indiana Class Action Lawsuit Regarding Compliance with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 Today, U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt approved the settlement of a class action lawsuit brought against Indiana officials to bring the State into compliance with the National Voter Registration Act (“NVRA”). The settlement requires that Indiana implement specific measures to assure that thousands of low-income residents have the opportunity to register to vote at state public assistance offices, as mandated by the NVRA. The suit was brought by the Indiana State Conference of the NAACP on behalf of all state public assistance clients injured by the State’s violation of federal law.
- July 29, 2011 Protecting Voting Rights in Florida Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Executive Director Barbara Arnwine and the Rev. Jesse Jackson, President and Founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, released the following statement in response to the action by the Florida Secretary of State to withdraw portions of the voter suppression act (HB 1355) from consideration by the Department of Justice.
- July 15, 2011 Civic Groups Write Justice Department, Urge Rejection of New Florida Law Raising Roadblocks to Voting The League of Women Voters of Florida, the Brennan Center for Justice, Democracia USA, and the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law today wrote to the U.S. Department of Justice urging the Department to exercise its authority under the Voting Rights Act to deny preclearance to discriminatory provisions of Florida’s omnibus 2011 election law, H.B. 1355, which will make it harder for Floridians to vote.
- July 15, 2011 Lawyers’ Committee Joins Civil Rights Organizations and Members of Congress in Call for to Halt Restrictive and Disenfranchising Legislation Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Executive Director Barbara Arnwine participated in a July 13th Stand Up for Voting Rights press conference led by Ohio Congresswoman Marcia Fudge to draw attention to recent restrictive voting measures that will strip citizens of their constitutional right to vote across the country. Legislators described their outreach to U.S. Attorney General Holder Jr. and planned special order on the issue which will take place next week.
- July 13, 2011 According To New Analysis, Lawyers' Committee and Partners' NVRA Enforcement Efforts Deliver Results A newly released review of a June 27 report by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) shows that voter registration application rates at state public assistance agencies have risen sharply following National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) enforcement actions by advocacy groups the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Demos, Project Vote, and others. In contrast, the overwhelming majority of states not targeted have continued to see a long decline in registration of lower-income residents.
- June 29, 2011 Lawyers’ Committee Supports Efforts by Senators to Speak Out Against Highly Restrictive Photo ID Requirements Pending or Signed Into Law across Nation. DOJ Urged to Uphold Voting Rights Act The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law supports a recent letter issued by Senators Bennett, Schumer, Durbin and many others to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) today that expresses concerns about highly restrictive photo identification requirements under consideration or already signed into law in several states. The letter, addressed to U.S. Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr., states, "These measures have the potential to block millions of eligible American voters without addressing any problem commensurate with this kind of restriction on voting rights."
- June 13, 2011 National Civil Rights Leaders Speak Out Against Voter Suppression Efforts: ID Bills, Attacks on Early Voting and Voter Registration Could Disenfranchise Millions of Minority Voters National civil rights leaders came together today to highlight the disenfranchising impact that legislation – such as voter ID, proof of citizenship for registration, and cutbacks to early voting – being debated and passed in state houses across the country will have on the communities they represent and what is being done to fight back.
- June 10, 2011 National Civil Rights Leaders Speak Out Against Voter Suppression Efforts On Monday, June 13 at 9:30 AM EST, national civil, voting, and disability rights leaders will hold a press conference at the National Press Club to speak out against voter suppression efforts, which includes a rolling tide of disenfranchising legislation being considered and passed by state legislatures across the country. These bills, combined with budget cuts, cutbacks on early voting, and voter intimidation tactics, could create a recipe for mass disenfranchisement in the 2012 election.
- June 07, 2011 Lawyers’ Committee Objects to Proposed Ohio Legislation; Bills Would Erase Gains, Invite Voter Disenfranchisement Proposed legislation in Ohio could wipe out recent gains in the state’s system of elections and further disenfranchise minority voters in the state. In response, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law organized a joint letter signed by over 40 state and national civil rights, voting rights, youth and labor organizations that urged both bodies to reject the existing proposals and work in a truly bi-partisan fashion to create a truly accessible system of elections in Ohio.
- June 06, 2011 Lawyers' Committee Sues Georgia for Neglecting Voting Rights of Low-Income Residents The Lawyers' Committee and a coalition of voting rights groups filed suit today against Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp and Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) Clyde L. Reese III to remedy the State of Georgia’s failure to provide voter registration services at state public assistance offices, as required by the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA).
- February 24, 2011 Victory in New Mexico Voter Registration Case U.S. District Judge Judith Herrera signed a Consent Order resolving litigation brought by the Voting Rights Project challenging the failure of the State of New Mexico to implement the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA) at the State's public assistance offices.
- February 03, 2011 Lawyers' Committee Defends Constitutionality of Voting Rights Act in Federal District Court WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oral Argument on cross-motions for summary judgment in Shelby County v. Holder was held on Wednesday, February 2, 2011 in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. before Judge John Bates. This case, challenging the constitutionality of Section 5 of the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965, was brought by Shelby County, Alabama. The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law represents defendant-intervenor Bobby Lee Harris and presented oral argument in defense of the statute along with the United States Department of Justice, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund (LDF) and the American Civil Liberties Union.
- February 01, 2011 Lawyers' Committee Defends the Constitutionality of the Voting Rights Act February 2 in Federal District Court Oral Argument on cross-motions for summary judgment in Shelby County v. Holder will occur on Wednesday, February 2, 2011 in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. before Judge John Bates. This case, challenging the constitutionality of Section 5 of the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965, was brought by Shelby County, Alabama. The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law represents defendant-intervenor Bobby Lee Harris and will present oral argument in defense of the statute along with the United States Department of Justice, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund (LDF), and the American Civil Liberties Union.
- January 25, 2011 National Voting Rights Groups Put Georgia Secretary of State Kemp on Notice of Voting Rights Violations Citing clear evidence that low-income Georgia residents are being denied a legally-mandated opportunity to register to vote, attorneys from Project Vote, Demos, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (LCCRUL), the ACLU Voting Rights Project, and the law firm of Dechert LLP sent a pre-litigation notice letter today to Secretary of State Brian Kemp, on behalf of the Georgia State Conference of the NAACP, demanding that the Secretary immediately act to bring Georgia into compliance with the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) or face litigation.
- November 15, 2010 Was 2010 the Year of the Woman? ... National Black Women Leaders Host Briefing to Weigh In
- November 02, 2010 Election Protection Finds Problems Persist at Polling Places Across the Country ... Nonpartisan Coalition Urges New Congress to Implement Commonsense, Modern Reforms
- November 01, 2010 Election Protection Combatting Voter Suppression on Election Day and Before Lawyers' Committee submits amicus curaie brief opposing to Minnesota Tea Party-related groups' lawsuit seeking to gain permission to wear pins that say "Please I.D. Me" in polling places. The Judge's decision denying that request relied on the Lawyers' Committee/Election Protection position that: “The record suggests that the buttons are designed to affect the actual voting process at the polls by intimating that the voters are required to show identification before voting. This intimation could confuse voters and election officials and cause voters to refrain from voting because of increased delays or the misapprehension that identification is required.”
- October 26, 2010 Appeals Court Decides that Arizona Proof of Citizenship Requirement for Voter Registrants Violates Federal Law On October 26, 2010, in Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc. (ITCA) v. Bennett, No. 08-17115, the Ninth Circuit of Appeals issued a 2-1 opinion which found that Arizona's documentary proof of citizenship requirement for all new voter registrants violates the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) because the NVRA mandates that states "shall accept and use" the federal voter registration form without additional documentation requirements.
- October 25, 2010 Black Leadership Forum to host panel ‘National Impact of the Black Vote' Lawyers' Committee Executive Director Barbara Arnwine, featured panelist, to discuss Election Protection and voter suppression schemes.
- September 14, 2010 ELECTION PROTECTION CALLS ON BOARD TO INCREASE PREPAREDNESS IN ADVANCE OF NOVEMBER 2
- September 14, 2010 Election Protection Off to a Great Start Assisting Primary Election Voters Washington, D.C.; Balance of Reports Reflect Malfunctioning Machines
- September 14, 2010 Primary Day in DC: Limited Resources As Voters and Election Officials Adjust to Changes
- September 09, 2010 Election Protection Hotline Available to Help Voters in New York Toll-Free Number (1-866-OUR-VOTE) Available Now; Live Assistance on Primary Election Day
- September 09, 2010 Election Protection Hotline Available to Help Voters in Washington, D.C. Toll-Free Number (1-866-OUR-VOTE) Available Now; Live Assistance on Primary Election Day
- July 08, 2010 District Court Grants Lawyers' Committee's Motion to Intervene in Georgia v. Holder in Defense of Minority Voting Rights The United States District Court in the District of Columbia has granted the motion filed by the Lawyers' Committee and its co-counsel on behalf of Georgia citizens and organizations in State of Georgia v. Holder. This will enable the Lawyers' Committee and its allies to continue working to prevent implementation of a discriminatory voter verification system and to defend the constitutionality of an important provision of the Voting Rights Act.
- July 06, 2010 The Lawyers' Committee Moves to Intervene in Shelby County v. Holder in Defense of Critical Voting Rights Act Protection On July 1, 2010, the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and Dewey and LeBoeuf LLP filed a Motion to Intervene in Shelby County v. Holder on behalf of Mr. Bobby Lee Harris, a former City Councilman for Alabaster, Alabama, a municipality of Shelby County. With this lawsuit, Shelby County seeks to invalidate Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act on the alleged ground that Congress acted unconstitutionally when it most recently reauthorized Section 5 in 2006 for 25 years.
- November 30, 2009 Federal Court Lawsuit Settlement Brings Ohio Into Compliance with National Voter Registration Act-Hundreds of Thousands of Low-Income Ohioans to Benefit
- November 03, 2009 NONPARTISAN COALITION PROTECTS THE VOTE IN VIRGINIA
- October 16, 2009 Voting Rights Groups Set Record Straight on Lawsuit Targeted by State Republican Party
- July 09, 2009 Lawsuit Filed to Demand that New Mexico Jump-Start Voter Registration Efforts Citing clear evidence that hundreds of thousands of New Mexico residents have illegally been denied the opportunity to register to vote, a coalition of voting rights groups filed suit today against officials in New Mexico for violations of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA).
- July 09, 2009 Voting Rights Groups Sue Indiana for Neglecting Low-Income Voters Citing clear evidence that hundreds of thousands of low-income Indiana residents have illegally been denied the opportunity to register to vote, a coalition of voting rights groups filed suit today against officials in Indiana for violations of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA).
- July 09, 2009 Voting Rights Groups Sue to Force States to Register Low-Income Voters Citing clear evidence that hundreds of thousands of low-income Indiana and New Mexico residents have illegally been denied the opportunity to register to vote, a coalition of voting rights groups are filing lawsuits on Thursday, July 9, 2008 against officials in both states for violations of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA).
- June 25, 2009 Missouri Department of Social Services Agrees to Settlement Ensuring Voter Registration Opportunities for Low-Income Voters
- June 22, 2009 U.S. Supreme Court Leaves Vital Voter Protection in Place The U.S. Supreme Court left in place a key Voting Rights Act provision when it ruled that all local units of government must be able to bailout of coverage in an eight to one ruling and did not reach the issue of the constitutionality of Section 5.
- April 29, 2009 Supreme Court Hears Arguments Regarding Constitutionality of Section 5 of Voting Rights Act in Northwest Austin Municipal Utility District No. 1 v. Holder The Lawyers' Committee and the law firm of WilmerHale represents the Texas State Conference of the NAACP and Austin Branch of the NAACP in the case
- April 16, 2009 Lawyers' Committee Issues Statement Opposing Senate Bill 956
- March 19, 2009 Lawyers' Committee Files Supreme Court Brief Defending Constitutionality of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act
- March 17, 2009 Barbara R. Arnwine to Testify Before House Judiciary Committee on "Lessons Learned During the 2008 Election" During a hearing to evaluate the successes and failures of the 2008 election process, Ms. Arnwine's testimony focused on Election Protection's efforts and highlighted deceptive practices and intimidation tactics experienced by voters across the country.
