SCHAKOWSKY INTRODUCES PROVISIONAL VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 2001. HAILS COMPREHENSIVE VOTING RIGHTS BILL BY REPRESENTATIVE CONYERS

HAILS COMPREHENSIVE VOTING RIGHTS BILL BY REPRESENTATIVE CONYERS

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) today introduced the Provisional Voting Rights Act of 2001. The legislation would ensure that voters are not turned away at the polling place because their names do not appear on the list of registered voters. Representative John Conyers, ranking Democratic member of the House Judiciary Committee, is a cosponsor of the bill

"This past election taught us a very important lesson: voters were penalized for no fault of their own. Because of bureaucratic errors, omissions, and even discrimination, countless voters were turned away from the polling place and denied their constitutional right to vote. We must demand accountability, answers and action from elected officials," said Schakowsky, who is one of eight co-chairs of the Democratic Caucus Special Committee on Election Reform.

She added, "This bill would ensure a measure of fairness in our voting process by allowing provisional voting. What happened in Florida this past election should not be repeated and no citizen should have to endure the humiliation that thousands endured on November 7, 2000."

The Provisional Voting Rights Act of 2001 would expand the provisional voting measure in the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 or Motor Voter law. This bill:

• permits individuals whose names do not appear on a voting registration list to vote after affirming their right to vote;

• calls for provisional votes to be transferred immediately for verification; and

• requires that provisional votes be counted unless the state can prove that those voters should not be allowed to cast their votes.

Schakowsky also hailed other legislation introduced today by Representative Conyers. The Equal Protection of Voting Rights Act of 2001 addresses concerns raised during last year's election, including voter records, accessibility, and equal opportunity at the voting place. In addition, it would create a twelve-member bipartisan commission to examine election issues and would award grants to states to meet national requirements and purchase equipment, educate voters, and train officials. The bill has been introduced in the Senate by Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) and is supported by civil rights and labor groups including NAACP, AFL-CIO and La Raza.

An original cosponsor of the Conyers bill, Schakowsky said, "The struggle to achieve true justice and equality continues in 2001 and our nation is ready for the Voting Rights Act of the new millennium. I will proudly join and lend my efforts to this worthy cause."