Threats of Bullying and Intimidation at Polls Could Deter Legitimate Voters From Showing up

Democracy, elections and voting at Democracy Chronicles

Will Partisan Bullies at the Ballot Box Change the Outcome of Election 2012?

Voting Rights Groups Release Report on Voter Protection Laws in 10 Key States as Self-Appointed Activists Promise To Block, Intimidate Voters

Noon ET telepress call scheduled for Monday

WASHINGTON, Sept. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The following is being released by Common Cause:

WHAT: Self-appointed partisan activists are reportedly working to recruit 1 million volunteers to challenge and block certain voters’ right to vote on and before Election Day, creating an atmosphere of intimidation at the polls. In response to these efforts, voting rights groups Common Cause and Demos will release a new report on voter protection laws in 10 states considered critical in the 2012 election. “Bullies at the Ballot Box: Protecting the Freedom to Vote Against Wrongful Challenges and Intimidation,” highlights laws in key states like Florida and Pennsylvania that could allow partisan activists to prevent voters from casting regular ballots on Election Day and could create chaos for election officials.

The report also details laws in states such as Ohio and North Carolina that do a better job protecting eligible Americans from those who seek to stop them from voting. Wrongful challenges in states with weak voter protection laws could impact the outcome of the elections due to the number of voters who could be wrongfully removed from voting lists or prevented from voting regular ballots on Election Day by the actions of groups like True the Vote and others.

The ten states reviewed in “Bullies at the Ballot Box” include Colorado, Florida, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia.

WHO: Report authors Liz Kennedy, Stephen Spaulding, Tova Wang, Jenny Flanagan, and Anthony Kammer will present a summary of the findings and recommendations and respond to questions from reporters.

WHEN: Monday, Sept. 10, at noon ET

ADDITIONAL DETAILS: The report is embargoed for release at 9 a.m., Sept. 10; copies will be available for download then at www.commoncause.org/bullies.

Contact: Mary Boyle
(202) 736-5770

SOURCE Common Cause

RELATED LINKS
https://www.commoncause.org