Letter to Editor: Republicans Want to Take Away Some Voting Rights
"In a campaign supported by the Koch brothers, Republicans are working to prevent millions of Democrats from voting next year." -- Rolling Stone, Aug. 30, 2011
President Lyndon Johnson Signing the Voting Rights Act in 1965
President Lyndon Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act into law on August 6, 1965. The resolution empowered the federal government to oversee voter registration and elections in counties that had used tests to determine voter eligibility or where registration or turnout had been less than 50 percent in the 1964 presidential election. It also banned discriminatory literacy tests and expanded voting rights for non-English speaking Americans.
Courtesy, CORE
Photos (3)
Photos
Dear Cascade Patch:
One of the most concerted efforts to take away the voting rights of Americans is well underway and far too many people are sitting silently back and not engaging their local politicians about their concerns.
Despite all of the hysteria and claims from those advocating the new voting laws and restrictions, "Out of the 300 million votes cast in that period (2008 Presidential Election), federal prosecutors convicted only 86 people for voter fraud—and many of the cases involved immigrants and former felons who were simply unaware of their ineligibility."
According to an Aug. 30, 2011, Rolling Stone article, "The GOP War on Voting," Republican officials have begun an "unprecedented, centrally coordinated campaign to suppress the elements of the Democratic vote that elected Barack Obama in 2008."
"Just as Dixiecrats once used poll taxes and literacy tests to bar black Southerners from voting, a new crop of GOP governors and state legislators has passed a series of seemingly disconnected measures that could prevent millions of students, minorities, immigrants, ex-convicts and the elderly from casting ballots."
I hope that you will continue to spread the message that we must do our part to preserve the benefits of freedom that our foreparents fought so hard to attain for us and future generations.
I would just ask that you share the following article with all of your friends and colleagues that are a part of your personal and social network. http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-gop-war-on-voting-20110830.
The rights you preserve might be your own!
Sincerely,
Artis Johnson, Cascade Patch subscriber
Sue Matsumoto
11:01 am on Thursday, September 1, 2011
You're article isn't very clear... You did not define exactly what they are doing and how they are implementing their plan? You've made historical references and insinuations... Personally, I'm independent and do not support rights being taken but this is a poorly written article.
Janita Poe
11:07 am on Thursday, September 1, 2011
Greetings Sue,
Just for clarification, that was a "Letter to the Editor" and not an article. Also, he did strongly reference the Rolling Stone article. Thanks for your comment!