Home : Voting Rights

MCLU Working Hard to Protect Mainers' Right to Vote (10/30/2008)
PORTLAND – The Maine Civil Liberties Union Foundation today announced it would have legal help available for Maine residents who may face challenges at the polls on Election Day, Nov. 4.

Appeals Court Orders Michigan To Restore 5,500 Voters To Rolls (10/30/2008)
CINCINNATI – A federal appeals court late Wednesday cleared the way for 5,500 illegally purged voters to be returned to the rolls in time for Election Day. The U.S. Appeals Court for the Sixth Circuit rejected Michigan Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land's request not to enforce an earlier court ruling that declared the state's voter removal programs illegal. The appeals court decision is the latest victory in a lawsuit filed in September by the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Michigan, Advancement Project and the law firm of Pepper Hamilton LLP.

Free Speech Groups to Challenge Ban on Political Attire at Polls (10/29/2008)
Richmond, VA - Three Virginia-based free speech organizations today announced plans to mount a legal challenge to a controversial new State Board of Elections policy prohibiting the wearing of buttons, t-shirts and other apparel with political messages in polling places.

ACLU Urges Attorney General To Reject White House Challenge Of 200,000 Registered Voters In Ohio (10/28/2008)
WASHINGTON – In a letter to Attorney General Michael Mukasey today, the American Civil Liberties Union demanded the Department of Justice (DOJ) reject a White House request to challenge 200,000 registered voters in Ohio. The White House's request came days after the U.S. Supreme Court denied an attempt by Ohio Republicans to challenge voters with discrepancies between the information on their registration forms and other government databases. There is considerable evidence showing these databases are fraught with errors that could lead to the wrongful disfranchisement of thousands of lawful voters.

ACLU Launches Voter Empowerment Program (10/28/2008)
ATLANTA – The American Civil Liberties Union proudly launched its voter empowerment program today. As part of this effort, the ACLU will distribute 480,000 cards in 32 states that inform voters of their rights on Election Day and how to avoid problems when casting a ballot.

ACLU Sues GOP Members to Protect Voter Privacy (10/27/2008)
ALBUQUERQUE — The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Mexico today sued key members of the Republican Party for violating the privacy rights of New Mexico voters and illegally interfering with their right to vote. Filed in state district court, the class action suit alleges that NM Representative Justine Fox-Young and as yet unnamed members of the GOP illegally used private social security numbers to do background checks of legal voters and illegally disseminated confidential voter information to the press. The lawsuit also names private investigator Al Romero, hired by the GOP, for using voter registration information locate voters and question them about the legitimacy of their registrations.

Civil Rights Groups and Secretary of State Reach Agreement on Felon Voters (10/24/2008)
The New Mexico Women's Justice Project, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Mexico, and Secretary of State Mary Herrera announced an agreement to ensure convicted felons who have completed all probation or parole are able to vote in the upcoming election.

ACLU-TN Distributing Voters' Rights Cards, Providing Assistance for Voters on Election Day (10/22/2008)
Nashville, Tennessee – In preparation for Election Day, the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee (ACLU-TN) has produced a Voter Empowerment Card and is establishing an Election Day hotline to help voters who encounter problems at the polls.

ACLU Calls for Criminal Investigation of Bernalillo County Clerk's Office, GOP (10/22/2008)
ALBUQUERQUE — In a letter to the New Mexico Attorney General today, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Mexico called for a criminal investigation into concerns that the Bernalillo County Clerk's Office may have released confidential voter registration information to the Republican Party, and that the Party may have publicly distributed that information in violation of state laws protecting voter privacy. A press packet distributed by the GOP last week contained photocopies of 19 voter registration forms, and acknowledged that the Party obtained 92 voter registration forms in all. Several of the forms displayed written notes in a space reserved for "office use only," suggesting that they had been reviewed by County officials before arriving in the Party's hands.

Voting Rights Groups Warn Prosecutors About Investigating Ohio Voters (10/21/2008)
CINCINNATI – The American Civil Liberties Union and other voting rights groups sent a letter to Hamilton County Special Prosecutor Michael O'Neill today urging him to suspend investigations of voters where there is no specific, credible evidence of fraud. According to news reports, Hamilton County Prosecuting Attorney Joseph Deters began an investigation into voters who took advantage of Ohio's five-day window in which a person may simultaneously register to vote and cast a ballot. Deters declined to give any specific evidence of voter fraud that would have triggered an investigation and local elections officials confirmed they received no reliable reports of voter fraud.

Criminal Prosecutor Poll Monitors in MD Will Create an Atmosphere of Voter Intimidation, Says ACLU (10/21/2008)
WASHINGTON – Today in direct contradiction to a Department of Justice statement, the Washington Post reports that federal criminal prosecutors will monitor polling places in Maryland on November 4. In a Department of Justice statement, Acting Assistant Attorney General Grace Chung Becker announced on September 23 that “I want to inform the public that no criminal prosecutors will be utilized as election monitors on Election Day this year.” This move was prompted by the ACLU repeatedly urging the Department of Justice to avoid using federal prosecutors as poll monitors because of the possibility their presence would create an atmosphere of voter intimidation.