Dean on Justice Department Approval of New Orleans Election Plan

Washington, DC – Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean yesterday issued the following statement on the U.S. Department of Justice’s approval of the plan for New Orleans' first elections since Hurricane Katrina:

The Department of Justice’s decision to pre-clear a problematic plan for next month’s New Orleans elections is a disappointing development that raises serious questions about the integrity of the vote. Protecting the right to vote is a fundamental American value. Democrats are committed to helping citizens participate fully in our democracy, but this cannot happen unless our government works to inform voters of how they can most effectively exercise their right to vote.

If these elections are to proceed as scheduled on April 22nd, several steps must be taken ahead of the vote to make sure all New Orleans voters who want to cast their ballot can do so and have their vote counted. Every effort must be made to provide all the necessary information about the elections to all Orleans Parish voters, whether they are currently in or out of the state. This includes essential information about finding new polling places and learning how to cast early and absentee ballots. In particular, we must provide information to displaced voters to make sure they know when and how to apply for an absentee ballot and what they need to do to cast that ballot.

We must also do everything possible to maximize the availability of satellite voting locations, not only for early voting but for voting on Election Day as well. This includes reconsidering the possibility of establishing out-of-state satellite voting locations in places where we know there are significant numbers of displaced voters. If we can set up satellite voting stations for Iraqis living in America, there is no reason we can’t do the same thing for Americans displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

Assuming this election goes forward as planned, these conditions must be met if the voters are to have any confidence in the integrity of the vote, and if the rights of every voter are to be protected.”