Florida Sued Over GOP Plan to ‘Scrub’ Voter Rolls
June 12, 2012
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The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Rights Division announced this week it will sue Florida after the state disregarded the federal government’s request to suspend its controversial voter purge campaign. In a letter to Florida’s Republican Secretary of State, Assistant Attorney General Thomas Perez flatly states that Florida is violating the National Voter Registration Act. “Please immediately cease this unlawful conduct,” Perez writes. The full text of the letter is available HERE.
The DOJ notified Florida earlier this month that its purge campaign violated the Voting Rights Act of 1965, landmark legislation that sought to end racially discriminatory voting practices in Florida and other Southern states.
The current voter suppression effort in Florida is one of several championed by Republican governors who claim to be fighting widespread voter fraud, a claim that has yet to be supported by any evidence.
“In 36 states, there are laws or executive actions in place that tip the scales in favor of Republicans in the upcoming election. These restricted measures will inevitably make it hard for minorities, the elderly, and young people to vote,” said Florida Democratic Rep. Alcee L. Hastings. “Never before have these voter suppression efforts been so blatant, widespread, and systematic. Republicans are attacking one of the most fundamental rights of our democracy: the right to vote. We cannot sit idly by and allow our voices to be silenced.”
