Rep. John Lewis Says Georgia´s Massive Voter ID Checks are Harassment
Political Desk
October 13, 2008
Today voting rights groups filed a suit against the Georgia Secretary of State charging that the voting rights of a Cherokee County citizen had been violated. This suit comes one day after serious concerns were lodged by the U.S. Department of Justice that Georgia´s attempts to verify voter identity violated the Voting Rights Act, a federal law which mandates states with a history of discrimination clear any voting procedures with the Department of Justice before they are implemented during an election. The Social Security Administration has also raised questions about the number of Georgia´s requests. Georgia has asked to verify the identities of 2 million voters. Rep. John Lewis, a symbol of the struggle for voting rights in America, made this statement in response to these events:
"I was deeply disturbed when I heard about the allegations made in the case of Mr. Jose Morales, as well as the Justice Department´s valid inquiry into violations of the Voting Rights Act in Georgia. Georgia is not the only state where questions are mounting. In Ohio and in Florida and other states around the country it seems that obstacles are being created to keep citizens from participating in this election.
"I think there is a deliberate, systematic effort to depress the turn out of African American, Latino and other minority voters on November 4th. This is harassment. It is intimidation, and it places an undue burden on some citizens. Who decides, based on what standards which 2 million voters deserve greater scrutiny than any others? I think these actions violate both the letter and the spirit of the Voting Rights Act. They should be pursued by voting rights groups and the Department of Justice with all deliberate speed so we can make the way clear for registered voters to freely exercise their constitutional rights.
"I urge all the register voters of Georgia to become informed and know your rights so that no one can discourage you from casting your vote on Election Day. I can assure you I will be in touch with the Justice Department officials about this matter and will be monitoring the developments in the Morales case very closely."
"I was deeply disturbed when I heard about the allegations made in the case of Mr. Jose Morales, as well as the Justice Department´s valid inquiry into violations of the Voting Rights Act in Georgia. Georgia is not the only state where questions are mounting. In Ohio and in Florida and other states around the country it seems that obstacles are being created to keep citizens from participating in this election.
"I think there is a deliberate, systematic effort to depress the turn out of African American, Latino and other minority voters on November 4th. This is harassment. It is intimidation, and it places an undue burden on some citizens. Who decides, based on what standards which 2 million voters deserve greater scrutiny than any others? I think these actions violate both the letter and the spirit of the Voting Rights Act. They should be pursued by voting rights groups and the Department of Justice with all deliberate speed so we can make the way clear for registered voters to freely exercise their constitutional rights.
"I urge all the register voters of Georgia to become informed and know your rights so that no one can discourage you from casting your vote on Election Day. I can assure you I will be in touch with the Justice Department officials about this matter and will be monitoring the developments in the Morales case very closely."
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