Emanuel, Conyers, Holt, Becerra, Honda, Ellison:

Fighting to End Vote Suppression

Introduce Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2007

"In November, the country voted for a change in Washington," said Emanuel. "This legislation is just an example of how this new Congress is working to reform the way Washington does politics. This reform will put an end to campaign practices that disenfranchise thousands of American voters and will give citizens the right to cast a ballot free from intimidation and misinformation."

Recent elections have been marred by allegations of deceptive practices that frequently focus on minority or low income neighborhoods. According to several non-partisan organizations, voter suppression through deceptive practices and intimidation are on the rise. In 2006, registered voters in Virginia received phone messages falsely warning them that the "Virginia Elections Commission" had determined that they were ineligible to vote, and over 14,000 Latino voters in California received letters asserting that it was illegal for immigrants to vote.

"I am deeply troubled that, long after the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, we still find ourselves having to fight against well-organized efforts to subvert our fundamental right to vote," said Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers. "Everyone’s vote must be counted and I look forward to our committee hearing next Wednesday as we begin to address this issue and create strong legal penalties for those who would suppress or restrict our right to vote."

"It is a travesty that American citizens are still routinely prevented from exercising their constitutional right and civic duty of voting through despicable tactics of suppression. Passage of this important legislation will make it clear that disenfranchising voters through intimidation or through willful deception about the time, place, or eligibility for voting is unacceptable and illegal," said Holt.

"As a result of tremendous bipartisan cooperation, Congress last year overwhelmingly reauthorized the Voting Rights Act, legislation enacted to protect our most fundamental and cherished right: Universal suffrage, " said Honda, Chair of the Congressional Asian and Pacific American Caucus(CAPAC). "Despite a decisive Congressional commitment to defending the right of every American to vote, there are those who seek to pervert our democratic system for narrow, selfish ends," he said, concluding, "Passage of the ‘Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act’ is imperative to ensuring that the right of every citizen to vote remains absolute and permanent."

The Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act will statutorily define "deceptive practices" as "knowing communication of false information." Further, the bill will:

• Elevate deceptive practices in elections a felony and increase the penalty to up to $250,000 or five years imprisonment
• Require the Department of Justice to provide voters with accurate election information when allegations of deceptive practices are confirmed
• Direct the Attorney General to initiate action on complaints
• Require the Attorney General to develop ways to disseminate corrective election information
• Require the Attorney General to report to Congress on the allegations of deceptive practices after each federal election
• Require the Attorney General, with the Federal Communications Commission and the Election Assistance Commission, to study using public broadcast systems to provide corrective election information.

"Congress has a fiduciary duty to ensure every single American citizen can and does vote," Becerra said. "No good comes from depressed turnout and that is the exact result of all the voter intimidation tactics that take place all across this country, from Connecticut to California and North Dakota to New Mexico. Simply put, the Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act will help increase voter turnout. Before America goes back to the polls to vote as a country, this bill needs to be passed to ensure that nobody is locked out of the democratic process."

"Minnesota leads the nation in voter turnout – averaging 70% or above. There is a reason why. We know we can vote; we know we should vote; and we know our votes count – and are indeed counted! This legislation will help restore the rest of the nation’s faith that their votes count also," said Ellison.

In addition to the six leading members, the Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act was introduced with the support of over 40 original co-sponsors, including new members of the majority like Keith Ellison (D-MN), Heath Shuler (D-NC), Hank Johnson (D-FL), Phil Hare (D-IL), Stephen Cohen (D-TN), and Albio Sires (D-NJ). U.S. Senators Barack Obama (D-IL) and Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) introduced Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act, S. 453, in the Senate on January 31, 2007.