Pelosi Urges Attorney General to Secure Voting Rights for All

[deadparrot]

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi today issued a statement calling on Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to report immediately on the activities undertaken by the Justice Department to protect the right to vote in the recently concluded elections, especially of citizens affected by the recent hurricanes. In light of reports last month that Republicans may seek to exploit the mass displacement of voters due to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Pelosi, leading Democrats, and several Representatives from areas affected by the hurricanes, had asked the Attorney General on October 27 for an immediate status report on the Justice Department's efforts, given the elections in several affected states yesterday, a report that still has not yet been provided.

"Yesterday, across the country, Americans proudly cast votes and performed one of their most critical civic responsibilities. Our democracy depends on protecting the right of every American citizen to vote - and to register to vote - in every election. As the Supreme Court has noted, 'No right is more precious in a free country than that of having a voice in the election of those who make the law, under which, as good citizens, we must live.'

"Special challenges, however, exist for the citizens of the states affected by the recent hurricanes. The Justice Department has a special responsibility and obligation to help people fulfill their right to participate in their government. I urge the Attorney General to work to secure voting rights for all, to prevent barriers, and to provide a report on the Justice Department's activities in the affected states without delay."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20051110/pl_usnw/pelosi_urges_attorney_general_to_secure_voting_rights_for_all321_xml

[AlamoDemoc]

1. A Memo to Democrats:

Voting Rights Bill is a matter of life and deathlike, and if our leadership in Congress think they can ignore this issue they are to loose in 2006.

[me b zola]

2. The "mishandling" of Katrina was no accident nor mere incompetence

Disenfranchisement of Democratic voters was one of motives of the murder of New Orleans.