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U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder today leveled the Obama administration's strongest criticism yet at new voting laws that, for example, require photo ID's at the polls, limit early voting, and restrict periods for registration.
In a speech prepared for delivery at the LBJ Library at the University of Texas in Austin, Holder quoted Rep. John Lewis (D-GA), a longtime civil rights leader, who said recently that voting rights are under attack by "a deliberate and systematic attempt to prevent millions of elderly voters, young voters, students, and minority and low-income voters from exercising their constitutional right to engage in the democratic process."
What Lewis was talking about, Holder said, was concerns about "some of the state-level voting law changes we’ve seen this legislative season."
The Justice Department is now reviewing some of those new laws. "We will examine the facts, and we will apply the law," Holder said.
"If a state passes a new voting law and meets its burden of showing that the law is not discriminatory, we will follow the law and approve the change. And where a state can’t meet this burden, we will object as part of our obligation" under the Voting Rights Act, he said.
That law, Holder said, is being challenged in at least five lawsuits. And the U.S. Supreme Court recently expressed the view that the time may be ending when close review by the Justice Department is required for changes in voting procedures in states with a history of racial discriminating at the polls. Perhaps, some members of the court said, that requirement of the Voting Rights Act is no longer necessary.
"I wish this were the case. The reality is that in jurisdictions across the country, both overt and subtle forms of discrimination remain all too common," Holder said.
He called the recent effort at congressional and legislative redistricting in Texas "precisely the kind of discrimination" that the Voting Rights Act was intended to block. The Supreme Court has agreed to review the state's newly drawn districts and a lower federal court's substitution of a different plan.
New census data showed Texas gaining more than four million new residents, most of them Latinos, allowing the state four new seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. But Texas, Holder said, "proposed adding zero additional seats in which Hispanics would have the electoral opportunity envisioned by the Voting Rights Act.
"As concerns about the protection of this right and the integrity of our election systems become an increasingly prominent part of our national dialogue, we must consider some important questions. It is time to ask: What kind of nation and what kind of people do we want to be? Are we willing to allow this era, our era, to be remembered as the age when our nation’s proud tradition of expanding the franchise ended? Are we willing to allow this time, our time, to be recorded in history as the age when the long-held belief that, in this country, every citizen has the chance and the right to help shape their government, became a relic of our past, instead of a guidepost for our future?
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Just another socialist trying to get more illegal criminal alien votes for the socialist party.
To..Michael""
Too funny ...illegals are gonna take a chance at getting caught by immigration by walking into a polling place and voting as who....is that what you on the right are saying...
At my polling place if my name ain't on the voter list ..that elderly lady checking names on the list is not gonna let me vote ...and if there's any problem the police officer that's always there by the door will take care of it
obviously you do not live in a major, well populated city
If you're a legal citizen:
1. Register to vote.
2. Show up on election day at the right pole (district).
3. Present the kind volunteer with a valid picture i.d. (drivers license).
4. Fill out the ballot.
5. Submit ballot.
6. Put your little "I Voted" sticker on your shirt.
6. Ignore the criminal named Holder.
7. Realize nothing is going to change.
8. Drink heavily.
Why isn't Holder investigating the Fraud voting in Indiana? Holder has no room to talk or critize anyone. He is more worried about Terrorist, Illegal's rights then the Rights of US Citizens and taxpayers.
Holder doesn't care about voters' rights!!! He let Black Panthers go who admitted intimidating voters in Philadelphia. Yet he accuses the states requiring a PICTURE ID of supressing voter rights????? Totally illogical. You need a picture ID to cash a check, buy alcohol, check into a hotel, fly on a plane, etc. . . . Canada requires TWO iD's to vote! Voter INTEGRITY is paramount! Those ranting and screaming otherwise are just trying to steal the election - something that was all to prevalent in 2008 - as evidenced by what went on in Indiana. Seems Obummer had a ton of fake signatures on the petitions to even get on the ballot. Just check in with Texas on the number of dead people who voted frequently and often for Obummer!!! Yep the left loves to steal elections. They can't stand an election that is FAIR = 1 citizen - 1 Vote!!!
Get a grip NOBAMA you're the one ranting and screaming. Steal elections? Not true and insulting. Black Panthers? A boondoggle, please get informed.
The allegations in Indiana are not voter fraud.
http://www.earlyvoting.net/blog/2011/10/allegations-absentee-voter-fraud-indiana-dont-add
New Black Panther Party:
The polling location, Guild House West, is located in a heavily-majority Democratic, African-American neighborhood in northern Philadelphia.
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/11/new_black_panther_shows_back_up_at_philly_polling.php
I wanted to buy a gift card from a major department store near my home earlier this year. I wnt to the store, went to the Service Desk You gotta love an Attorney General who's sole purpose in this voter ID issue is to get as many illegal votes cast as possible to insure another Democratic Party victory.
The kind, helpful, underprivileged, wonderful, hard working illegal's need to understand that the money well has dried up. You're not going to get a raise. Chill out Amigo.
The "minimalized" deserve a shot at getting more of your money. It's the democratic way. The republican way involves a complicated system of crooked banks. It's a snake eating its own tail and complaining how it tastes.
I worked at a bank for many years and to open an account, you needed two forms of identification if you were totally new to the bank. Picture ID from driver's license, passport, or state issued ID for those that didn't drive. We had to make sure the person opening the account was in fact that person. If we did not get the documents needed or it didn't seem right - we did NOT open the account. I think voting falls in that category. ID should be required!!!! People that were honest and had proper ID had no problems opening the account. Getting ID just keeps the honest people voting and weeds out the illegals or dishonest persons!
Com'on Kathy, think outside the box. Some poor and/or elderly do not have bank accounts...or driver's licenses. I take it you've never been to the poor side of town and noticed all the check cashing establishments?
The ALEC-sponsored voter suppression laws are nothing more than a modern day version of Jim Crow!
Do you know how many various forms of ID you can show to vote? Look it up. It is NOT suppressive.
Holder is an idiot. He ignores the "new black panther" organization intimidating voters, but he will complain about states imposing requirements that keep illegals from voting. Yet another of Obama's failures. Requiring photo ID in order to be able to vote should be a requirement in every state. It is not discrimination to keep illegals from voting. It is not discrimination to keep organizations like Acorn from bussing in people who don't belong in a district just so they can vote the way the democrats want. He is using the elderly card like the coward he is. My parents are elderly, they showed ID when they got their drivers liscences when they moved to this state, and they were able to register to vote at the same time. Convenient huh. Then they were able to opt for voting by mail so they didn't have to go out to someplace to vote. Both of them are on oxygen 24/7 and it is not convenient for them to go out just to vote. This is in the state of Colorado. This could be adopted in all the other states that don't alreay have this just so the elderly can vote. I do not see a problem with making sure the person voting is the person who is supposed to be voting.
Why didn't Bush's AG investigate it? Looks like he "ignored" it. I wonder why?
The Bush administration DID investigate the Black Panther intimidation in Philadelphia. In fact the DOJ had confessions and were ready to sentence the culprits when Obummer came to power. He ordered Holder to drop the proceedings. It was a blatant case of RACISM if ever I have heard of one. I did not vote for Obummer because of his LIBERAL ideals - not the color of his skin. Unfortunately I think the color of his skin influences MANY of his decisions - including the "beer summit." Sorry -but 20 years under Rev. Wright's black liberation theology has had its influence. (I am not racist - I was a huge Herman Cain supporter and have many friends who are black). I am just calling it like I see it!
Jeeezzz get over the Black Panther thing will you? You do know that one of the guys WAS prosecuted, right? You do know that not one voter reported intimidation, right? Which makes further prosecution difficult. You do know that it was ONE ISOLATED case, right?
But hey, the Justice Department doesn't have better things to do than throw the book at the other Black Panther because a bunch of white Republicans get their underwear all twisted up at the outrageous thought of white voter intimidation. Never mind the multitude cases of minority voter dilution and now the Voter ID laws affecting hundreds of thousands of voters who are disproportionately minority.
Bush DOJ decided New Black Panthers no major case
The Bush administration’s Justice Department — not the Obama administration — made the decision not to pursue criminal charges against members of the New Black Panther Party for alleged voter intimidation at a polling center in Philadelphia in 2008.
http://blogs.ajc.com/cynthia-tucker/2010/07/12/bush-doj-decided-new-black-panthers-no-major-case/
No Proof in New Black Panther Case: Official
A Bush appointee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights denounced allegations by some pundits that the Justice Department is refusing to pursue a voting rights case against members of the New Black Panther Party because of race, and suggested that the charges being made by right-wing figures are politically motivated.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/07/25/ftn/main6711575.shtml
Again, how could Holder's party have given us Rod Blogojevich, the Daley dynasty, or BHO if the dead weren't allowed to vote in Chicago. Very few dead people carry state issued picture ID.
Illinois is a blue state and you're questioning why Democrats won? Seriously. LOL
There are certain times in our life when we must prove that we are who we say we are....getting on a plane, claiming a newborn in a hospital, getting money from a bank, being stopped for a traffic violation, visiting a foreign country..........so what the hell is the big deal about showing proper ID when voting?
The Democratic Party: Pro Immigrant (illegal that is)
Reagan gave illegals amnesty. Looks like another republican flip-flop.
Reagan did sign an amnesty bill. It was based on a condition...Speaker (D) Tip O'Neill's promise to secure the borders.
Tip (D) didn't fulfill that promise.
The Democratic Party: Pro Immigrant (illegal that is)
Is that really what you think? How about Bush? He wanted to provide housing for every illegal immigrant to the US. You need to look harder at what Republicans have tried to do for illegal immigrants! They love that cheap labor because they love those donations from business!
Oh, it's 1963 again, Holder thinks he's in Selma, and he be steppin' in the spotlight! What a crock! Never tried Khaliq Sheik Muhammad! Never enforced border laws! Didn't fight Mexican drug cartels! (He sent them guns!) Instead go after the "Defense of Marriage Act", state laws DEFENDING our borders, and laws restricting voting to actual citizens!
Did anyone hear the story out of New Haven tonight about the Mayor asking that illegals be allowed to vote? (Erin Burnett reported it on CNN's OutFront tonight!)
So we know the Obama / Holder "political line": Forget real crime and terrorism! Let's make up garbage about it being the Jim Crow South again. Oh yeah! It's 1963 again, and Obama is Martin Luther King, Eric Holder is Jesse Jackson, and illegal aliens are the new "civil rights" issue! Say Amen, and pass the collection plate for Brother Obama!
What a liberal progressive whiny azz POS statement. F you Eric Holder! You are part of the problem of this country, quit being part of the problem.
Every citizen does have the right. Every ILLEGAL ALIEN DOES NOT!!!! I certainly DO NOT want illegals voting in my state determining what is best for me a LEGAL CITIZEN!!!!!! You EFFFING POS!!!!!!!
Holder's tin foil hat is just a wee bit too tight, I'd say.
You would know.
Why is it alright for the Black Panthers to intimidate voters but not alright to have to show an ID to vote?
It is called TWISTED LIBERAL LOGIC. They think that Black Panthers with billy clubs intimidating WHITE voters is perfectly fine. But don't dare ask anyone - especially a black person or minority - to show a picture ID to vote - that is "voter supression." Makes me want to PUKE - the duplicity and double standards are astounding! What crock of $hit!
#85.4
I'd like to know why post #1 & post #1.1 was collasped.
I think that Fiesty Redhead beotch hangs out on the boards lots and makes comments that other people object to. Only makes sense because she has a really low IQ and makes no sense at all most of the time - LOL I think people get tired of reading her "carp." ;)
How many convictions have we had in this nation over the last say 25 years for voter fraud? My guess -- less than 25. This is a very similar to Republicans carrying on about the threat of Sharia Law taking over this nation --- a whole lot of hat air and fear mongering about nothing.
I do find it strange that the party who claims to love democracy so very much, claims to love freedom so much, claims to love the constitution so much, is spending so much time and effort making it harder for people to vote. Why is Scott Walker in Wisconsin cutting down on the hours pooling places are opened? Why is he cutting down on the locations where a person can register to vote? In Ohio -- why is John Kassich making early voting harder to do?
I have no problem with showing an ID to vote. But why is it in states like Texas, an ID that will get you on a flight, allow you to purchase a gun and allow you do to just about everything else will NOT work for voting?
What are these "freedom loving" Republicans governors so afraid of?
We just had 12 last month down by atlanta, weirdest thing they where all black.Actually they wont be able to vote because they are felons. Here are some voter fraud findings for you but you cant tell how much is going on when mexican citizens can vote in several states without ID. http://www.ksdk.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=163905 Acornvoter registration recruiter indicted on voter fraud charges12:32 PM, Jan 5, 2009, http://www.walb.com/story/16104533/12-indicted-for-voter-fraud Posted: Nov 22, 2011. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/14/AR2010071405880.html 2008 voter-intimidation case against New Black Panthers riles the right. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/minnesota-leads-the-nation-in-voter-fraud-convictions-131782928.html. Eric holder is a racist for saying blacks are most affected by preventing felons to vote
Actually check out my links from the 12 election workers convicted near atlanta and the 113 convicted in 2008 of illegally voting in my minnesota link and you get more than 25 cases unless you went to detroits public schools.
Those 113 votes in Minnesota were felons. This was not an ID issue.
Republican Lawyers Group's Own Study Undercuts Vote Fraud Claims
Viewing the data for the period 2000-2010, the report by its own account shows there is no link between voter fraud in states and the need for stricter voter ID laws. The data shows that during the entire 10 year period, 21 states had only 1 or 2 convictions for some form of voter irregularity. And some of these 21 states have the strictest form of voter ID laws based on a finding of 2 or less convictions in ten years. Five states had a total of three convictions over a ten year period. Rhode Island had 4 convictions for the same 10 years. Taking a close look at the RNLA data shows 30 states, including the District of Columbia had 3 or less voter fraud convictions for a 10 year period.
http://www.alternet.org/news/153435/republican_lawyers_group%27s_own_study_undercuts_vote_fraud_claims
I work the polls and have for the last 5 years. I am in Arizona and we do require Photo ID, i.e. Drivers license, Gov't issued Indian I.D., Military I.D., or simply a govt isssued photo I.D. We require the PHOTO id because we need to veriify you are who you say you are because we CANNOT ask you to prove your citizenship. That is left up to voter registration. Once you register to vote your name goes in a poll book and you are entered into a precint where you live. Your name, address and or P.O. box are listed in the book. When you come in to vote the I.D. clerk has to verify that the information is correct. You are then passed along to a second person that will again make sure you are listed in their POLL book. Only then do you get a ballot. The whole process goes quickly and smoothly providing all the information is correct.
People move out of the precinct and don't notify voter registration. They don't vote in any election for 3 years and get dropped. This is because when a person expires the next of kin seldom notifies voter registration and there has to be a way to "cleanse" non participatory listings.
Now please remember that most poll workers are volunteers and we are human. We make mistakes. That said, pay attention here, no one is ever turned down and NOT allowed to vote!! When there are discrepancies we at the polls allow the voter to vote a "provisional" ballot which gets placed in a special locked container, gets returned to voter registration where THEY can verify the information. We, at the polls, make every attempt to resolve any issue at the poll. The provisional is only a last resort. Yelling at us will not get you a regular ballot and no, I don't really care who you know.
With all that said I will say the vast majority are very understanding and patient. In my 5 years I have only had 2 people arrested (for intimidation) and had maybe 6 people trying to vote twice. Rest assured there are many checks and balances . I believe our voting system is very fair and asking you to prove who you are isn't asking too much.
Also, we are always looking for volunteers, so if you have the time........come join us.
Thanks for posting, I am always concerned when the Federal Government steps into states rights, especially Eric Holder (from the NOT-Justice Dept). I seriously think that the dems are concerned that Obama just might loose if they don't do something to rig the election in his favor. Although, I don't understand why Obama would want re-election. The Congress will not allow him to destroy this country any farther. The Supreme Court will shut down Obama Care.
Also, Obama has no idea how to turn this economy around. Again, what's the point of re-election.
ABKO = anybody but King Obama.
>> In my 5 years I have only had 2 people arrested (for intimidation) and had maybe 6 people trying to vote twice. <<
Wow --- 6 people in 5 years!! Sounds like a huge problem to me -- right up there with threat of Sharia Law
"I am always concerned when the Federal Government steps into states rights,"
That's the exact same logic the South used to keep Blacks from voting -- it was a states rights issue. And -- the words "State's Rights" are NOT found in the constitution.
With these elections being so close even a couple of votes could turn the election. So, you dems saying that voter fraud doesn't happen... well I am concerned. And then there's ACORN.
Look at what happened in Florida. I lived there during that very trying time with Gore trying to find chads.
I just learned that in my state you need a social security number to vote. My son just graduated from High School and got a voter ID card. So, dems, why are you saying it is to hard to get a ID?
Arizona does NOT require photo ID. I live here. Sad to see the poll workers don't even know the correct policy.
Photo ID is the easiest way to prove ID, but you can also provide 2 forms of non-photo ID, or 1 photo ID plus non photo ID as stated here:
http://www.azsos.gov/election/prop_200/poll_identification.htm
Whatever policy it takes to prevent voter fraud MUST be taken.
If any of you cannot afford a $13 certified photo ID...There are
MANY agencies and churches that would assist you in obtaining one.
State and Town police should be used in force - at all voting places...
ready to arrest any frauds that are not American.
Because of the massive invasion of illegals in America - we must insist
on photo ID's.
"Whatever policy it takes to prevent voter fraud MUST be taken."
Is this about voter fraud, or is about voter suppression? We are NOT going to have thousands upon thousands if illegal immigrants, non-citizens, and ex-convicts lining up to vote. Real voter fraud is gong to happen electronically and that’s what we should be concerned about. So far NONE of these right wing Republican governors have done anything about electronic voter fraud.
A good example in the Supreme Court race in Wisconsin held last spring. It looked like a very close election. It looked like Governor Scott Walker’s buddy just might not win. At least it looked like an automatic recount was going to happen. But then – some election official who just happened to work for Scott Walker in the past, just happened to find 7500 votes for the guy supporting Walker on her personal computer, and that 7500 votes were just enough to stop an automatic recount. Was that voter fraud? We don’t know. But it sure doesn't pass the smell test. Yet Scott walker, the guy so very concerned about voter fraud, did NOTHING to investigate this incident.
Charlie- check out my last link for minnisota in 2008 where 113 where convicted of voter fraud.
Here are some voter fraud findings for you but you cant tell how much is going on when mexican citizens can vote in several states without ID. http://www.ksdk.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=163905 Acornvoter registration recruiter indicted on voter fraud charges12:32 PM, Jan 5, 2009, http://www.walb.com/story/16104533/12-indicted-for-voter-fraud Posted: Nov 22, 2011. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/14/AR2010071405880.html 2008 voter-intimidation case against New Black Panthers riles the right. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/minnesota-leads-the-nation-in-voter-fraud-convictions-131782928.html. Eric holder is a racist for saying blacks are most affected by preventing felons to vote
Charlie- check out my last link for minnisota in 2008 where 113 where convicted of voter fraud.
WOW!!! 113 never tried -- out of over 100,000,000 votes. I'm not saying this shouldn't be investigated but voter fraud one vote at a time is a joke. It's way too complicated to swing an election with 1 fraudulent vote at a time. It would be like big banks spending all their security money on preventing bank robberies and ignoring the real threat -- electronic hacking. Again ---- real voter fraud is gong to happen electronically and that’s what we should be most concerned about.
113 felons. This is not a voter ID issue.
My mother-in-law is a 92-year-old citizen who has never driven an automobile. It is people like her that KS Secretary of State Kobach wants to disenfranchise. In rural areas, almost everyone must drive vehicles, so they all get to vote. Most of those isolated, ignorant, but opinionated, rural characters believe the rightist propaganda, and vote for Republicans. Kobach knows that city folks do not really need automobiles, and he knows that they tend not to vote for Republicans. He isn't trying to deter the six people who allegedly voted illegally in the last eight years in Kansas. He and his Republican accomplices began their evil enterprise with intent to deter as many voters as possible who are likely to vote for Democrats.
My ancestors worked and fought to establish a society, and then a nation, on this land for a couple of hundred years before folks with names like Kobach began scrambling off of boats without visas. They fought and bled to establish a nation where peoples' rights could not be usurped by authoritarians like Koback. To Hell with him. I commend his anti-democratic law to his use as a rectal suppository.
In this state, investigation during the past 3 elections shows there was no measurable fraud, but now we have an ID law anyway. It has prevented over 130,000 from voting, but that was the idea. They do have the chance to vote, in actual fact, but votes are 'flagged' and then disallowed unless they can come to the Bd of Elections with an ID that is satisfactory. There was a time when only property owners could vote, then only when those who could afford the 'poll tax' could vote, then those who could pass the literacy test to register, then (at least here) only those willing to risk being followed home by the guys with the ax handles hanging around outside he polling place. Lots of folks here genuinely believe we should restrict voting in the same way now.
All of the laws regarding ID's should be repealed immediately. It's not enough the GOP has the makers of the voting machines(diebold) in their back pockets, now they want to make sure people don't even show up on
auctionelection day.Why can't a voting machine give a receipt?? ATMS can
The whole election process in this country is corrupt.
The real problem with the election laws are the requirements necessary to exercise the right to vote. Anybody in this country has the right to drive a car if they are old enough and can PASS A TEST. The same should hold true for voting. People that cast a ballot should at least be able to spell cat without having to be spotted the C and the T.
Agreed. Can I add to that ....pastors,rabbi's,fathers,reverends and alike must stop using the Church to advance politics. If they are not paying federal taxes, they need to stop getting involved in politics.
I wonder how many parishioners of some of these Mega churches are cold,hungry,homeless or in fear of losing their homes while some (insert title here) of a Mega Church sits in his 50,000 sq ft mansion wondering where to go in his private plane or is at a $10,000 a plate political event tonight.
Religion and Corporations need to be removed from politics or it will get worse.
Peace
FOR those that read the constitution and bill of rights correctly , and look at the history of the founders , understanding their meaning , we find that the Government must stay out of religion , NOT that religion should stay out of Government , Our constitution was founded on Judio Christian principals , THIS is false propaganda crap by those who want to under mine our constitution ( socialist communists ) and we have courts who practice this false premise against religion ,
BILL OF RIGHTS amendment I / Congress shall make no Law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, WHERE DOES IT SAY ANY THING ABOUT RELIGION NOT BEING INVOLVED OR A PART OF OUR GOVERNMENT / it don't /
Darrel, you're a scary guy. You desire to bring YOUR religion (the country's majority religion) into OUR government. A theocracy we DO NOT need and I DO NOT want myself or my children to be subjected to that tyranny.
In this country you are free to worship in your own way but you are NOT free to impose that religion on others like me.
Anybody really give a crap what Eric Holder has to say? He should have been fired by Obama over the Fast and Furious fiasco. He should have been fired by Obama for trying to bring the terrorist trials to New York. He should be looking at criminal charges for lying to Congress. He doesn't have the decency or the character to resign. Why would anybody care what this talking turd has to say or what he thinks?