National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)

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NAACP SUPPORTS LEGISLATION TO END INTIMIDATING AND DECEPTIVE PRACTICES IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS

THE ISSUE

Unfortunately, some people are so desperate to win elections that they resort to deceptive practices – lies – to try to keep legitimate voters away from the polls or to support candidates whom they might not otherwise vote for. It is even more unfortunate that these practices often target and exploit vulnerable populations, such as racial or ethnic minorities, the disabled or the poor.

To address these undemocratic, disenfranchising and immoral activities, Senators Obama (IL), Schumer (NY) and others have introduced S. 453, the Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act. This bill makes voter intimidation and deception punishable by law, and it contains strong penalties so that people who commit these crimes suffer more than just a slap on the wrist. The bill also seeks to address the real harm of these crimes – people who are prevented from voting by misinformation – by establishing a process for reaching out to misinformed voters with accurate information so they can cast their votes in time.

Examples of malicious deceptive practices were rampant as recently as the general election in 2006. In Orange County, California, 14,000 Latino voters got letters in Spanish saying it was a crime for immigrants to vote in a federal election. It didn't say that immigrants who are citizens have the right to vote. In Maryland, misleading fliers were handed out in predominantly African American neighborhoods with the heading "Democratic Sample Ballot" and photos of black Democratic leaders – and boxes checked off beside the names of the Republican candidates for Senator and Governor. In Virginia, registered voters received recorded calls that falsely stated that the recipient of the call was registered in another State and would face criminal charges if they came to the polls.

It is unfortunate but true that S. 453, the Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Act needs to be passed now, before another election comes, more lies are told and more voters are locked out of the democratic process.

THE MESSAGE

  • Even as recently as the 2006 election, various groups were targeted with deceptive mailings, fliers and phone calls, intended to mislead then into not voting or voting for a candidate based on blatantly false information.
  • All too often, these lies or "deceptive practices" target and exploit vulnerable populations, such as racial or ethnic minorities, the disabled and the poor.
  • We need strong federal legislation to ensure that voters are given corrected information in time to cast an unfettered vote, and that individuals and groups found guilty of knowingly attempting to discourage legitimate voters from going to the polls or of providing misinformation are punished for their undemocratic and immoral deeds.

THE ACTION WE NEED YOU TO TAKE


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