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PROGRAMSUCCESSx13NOVEMBER2011PAGE11DemocratsPresidentBarackObamaCampaignFightVoterSuppressionByFrederickCosbyGuestColumnistCongressionalDemocratsandPresidentBarackObamax19sre-electioncampaignaresteppingupeffortstostymienewelectionlawsinmorethanadozenstatesthatcouldpreventasmanyasfivemillionAmericansx13mostofthemminoritiesx13fromvotingin2012.MembersoftheCongressionalBlackCaucusCongressionalHispanicCaucusCongressionalAsianPacificAmericanCaucusandHouseDemocraticleadershipThursdayunveiledlettertobesenttoelectionofficialsinall50statesimploringthemtoopposethenewlaws.Theletterwassignedby196DemocraticmembersoftheHouseofRepresentatives.x1cElectionlegislationandadministrationappeartobeincreasinglytheproductofpartisanplaysx1dtheletterstates.x1cElectionofficialsareseenaspartisancombatantsratherthanstewardsofourdemocracy...Votinghoursvotingsitesidentificationrequirementsvoterregistrationregulationandaccesstomailballotsshouldnotbeusedasweaponstoachieveapreferredelectoraloutcome.x1dThirteenstateshavechangedtheirvoterlawsand24othersareconsideringlegislationthatrequiresprospectivevoterstoshowgovernment-approvedidentificationcardsinordertoregisterorvote.Othermeasureseitherpassedinstatesorunderconsiderationincludeeliminatingorcurtailingearlyvotingrestrictingvoterregistrationdrivesbythird-partygroupsliketheNAACPortheLeagueofWomenVoterseliminatingsame-dayregistrationanddenyingconvictedfelonswhox19veservedtheirtimetherighttovote.Recentstudiesindicatethatthechangescouldpreventfivemillionpeoplefrombeingabletovotenextyear.Thebiggestproblemopponentssayarethegovernment-approvedphotoIDrequirements.AreportlastmonthbytheBrennanCenterforJusticeatNewYorkUniversityfoundthatmorethan21millionAmericansdonx19tpossessgovernment-issuedphotoID.AccordingtotheNAACPabout25percentofblacksnationwidedonx19thavetheproperdocumentationtomeetIDrequirementsinsomestates.x1cWearewitnessingaconcertedeffortbyRepublicanlawmakersacrossseveralstatestoplacenewobstaclesinfrontofminoritieslow-incomefamiliesandyoungpeoplewhoseektoexercisex1dtheirrighttovoteHouseMinorityWhipStenyHoyerD-MarylandsaidatapressconferenceThursday.x1cAcrossthecountrystatesaretryingtomakeithardertovotebymakingidentificationrequirementsstricterandreducingearlyvoting.x1dButRepublicansinsistthechangesareneededtopresentwhattheysayhasbeenrampantvoterfraudinrecentyearsandtoprotectagainstillegalimmigrantsfromvoting.AfterblackcaucusmembersandHoyergaveaseriesofspeechesTuesdaycondemningthenewlawsRep.SteveKingR-Iowadeliveredhisownspeechdefendingthechanges.Kingcitedthe2008controversysurroundingtheAssociationofCommunityOrganizersforReformNoworACORNasreasoningtoimplementthenewlaws.x1cHowmuchmorewidespreadwouldyouhavetobethanoperationsgoingoninnearlyall...50statesx13majorcitiesx13andmillionsofdollarsspenttopaypeopletogooutandfraudulentlyregistervotersx1dKingsaidTuesday.Kingdidnx19tmentionthata2009reportbythenonpartisanCongressionalResearchServicefoundnoevidenceofvotingfraudorfederalelectionfinancingviolationsbyACORNoverafive-yearperiod.TheCongressionalResearchServicereportisoneofmanystudiesthathavepiercedtheGOPmythofwidespreadvoterfraud.Afive-yearinvestigationbytheJusticeDepartmentduringGeorgeW.Bushx19spresidencyfoundnoevidenceoforganizedvoterfraud.AsDemocratsinCongresshaveturnedtheirattentiontothenewvotinglawsinmostlyRepublican-governedstatessotoohastheWhiteHouse.OfficialsrunningObamax19sre-electioncampaignhavequietlygoneaboutattackingthelawsinsomestatesaccordingtoTheWallStreetJournal.ThepaperreportedthatbythespringObamax19sre-electionteamwillmountalarge-scalex1cvoterprotectionx1deffortbyfieldingthousandsofvolunteersinkeybattlegroundstatestohelpvotersnavigatethenewlaws.x1cWewilllookatwhatthestatehasdonelookforwaystocounteritthroughlitigationsometimesthroughadministrativeinterpretationsometimesx1daseniorObamacampaignofficialtoldTheJournal.x1cButbeyondthatyouhavetohaveaprogramthatactuallygoesoutandshowsvoterswhattheyneedtodo.x1dThecampaignhasalreadyhadsomesuccess.AfterOhiox19sRepublicangovernorandlegislatureapprovedalawthatcutearlyvotingfrom35daysbeforeElectionDaytojust16theOhioDemocraticPartywiththehelpfromtheObamacampaignandtheDemocraticNationalCommitteesprungintoaction.Theycollectivelyspent1.5milliontoget318000signaturesonarepealpetitioninjustsixweeksTheJournalreported.ThemovepreventedthelawfromtakingeffectuntilOhioresidentscanvoteonthemeasureinaNovember2012referendum.