Protecting Eligible Voters
Coinciding with the nation’s tense immigration debate of recent years is a strong belief among certain partisans that undocumented people are somehow undermining the democratic process.
Instances of non-citizens attempting to cast a ballot are extremely rare, but this drummed up fear has real consequences: it excludes legitimate voters who do not have documentary proof of citizenship, such as seniors, students living away from home, or married people who adopt the surname of their spouses.
Further, proof-of-citizenship policies essentially quash community-based voter registration drives, which are responsible for reaching large numbers of potential voters at markets, churches, and other public places where one is unlikely to carry birth certi cates and passports.
Ensuring that eligible Americans are not prevented from registering and voting due to unnecessary and discriminatory bureaucratic hurdles like proof-of-citizenship requirements is one of Project Vote’s key missions.
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Voter Purge Settlement Protects Right to Vote for Florida Voters
Under a settlement agreement announced today, Florida will reverse the effects of an illegal purge program that resulted in many eligible voters being purged from the rolls. Read more
It is Harder to Vote in America than it was in 2008
Voting has become more difficult in the last four years, says a new report from the nonprofit voting rights organization Project Vote. Read more
Project Vote Applauds Michigan Governor Snyder’s Veto of Voter Suppression Package
Today, Governor Rick Snyder of Michigan vetoed a package of voter suppression laws—including HB 5061, SB 754 and SB 803—passed by the state legislature. Project Vote Executive Director Michael Slater issued the following statement in response Read more
Voting Rights Organizations Challenge Florida Voter Purge Program
Today, civil and voting rights organizations filed a lawsuit on behalf of Florida plaintiffs affected by Gov. Rick Scott's illegal voter purge program. Read more
Voting Rights Organizations Send Notice to Florida: Stop Purging Voters
oday, a coaliton of civil and voting rights organizations sent a letter to Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner, alerting him that Florida’s plan to identify and remove alleged non-citizens from the voter rolls violates federal law and must cease immediately. Read more
Court Strikes Down Arizona’s Proof of Citizenship Requirement for Voter Registration
After a six year legal battle in a lawsuit brought by voting rights groups on behalf of numerous individuals and civil rights organizations, Arizona’s Proposition 200, which requires proof of citizenship for voter registration, was rejected by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals today on the grounds that the law is in direct conflict with the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA). Read more
MI House Should Vote “No” on Voter Suppression Package
The Michigan legislature is considering a package of bills that will create unnecessary hurdles for voters. Read more
Michiganders want Integrity in the their Elections, Not Waste and Redundancy
Michigan voters were surprised to see a new requirement before getting their ballots at the polls today for the Presidential Primary. Poll workers are asking properly registered voters to check a box declaring that the voter is a United States Citizen. Read more
Voting rights are still under attack in 2012, but voting rights advocates see some signs of hope
The first month of this election year has already seen a concerted and coordinated movement to roll back voting rights across the country. These legislative trends, which could have a powerful impact on turnout in the 2012 election and beyond, are summarized in a new report released Monday from Project Vote. Read more
Arizona Proposition 200 Decision, Another Strike Against the NVRA and Voter Participation
The federal district court in Arizona has just granted partial summary judgment to Arizona in Gonzalez v Arizona. The disappointing decision upholds the part of Proposition 200, a 2004 anti-voter and immigrant rights initiative which requires voter registration applicants to provide proof of citizenship in order to register to vote. Read more