What鈥檚 new in voter suppression land today? South Dakota is trying to prevent Eileen Janis 鈥� and hundreds of other citizens 鈥� from voting.
Eileen grew up on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and does suicide prevention work. She registered to vote for the first time in 1984. 鈥淚 always vote because my mom told me to,鈥� .
But when she went to cast her ballot in the historic 2008 election, she found that she had been illegally removed from the voter rolls. Though she had been convicted of a felony, her sentence to probation meant that she had not lost the right to cast a ballot. 鈥淚 went [to vote] with my son who had just turned 18. As soon as I tried to vote I was told no because I was a felon.鈥�
The illegal denial of Eileen鈥檚 voting rights is part of South Dakota鈥檚 long and troubling history of violating the civil rights of Native Americans. Native Americans are highly over-represented in the criminal justice system, so denying voting rights to people on probation has an unfair and disproportionate impact on Native American voters.
The 老澳门开奖结果 sued on behalf of Eileen and other Native Americans wrongfully purged from the rolls. We won, and South Dakota was ordered to make sure that people on probation were allowed to cast their ballots.
But the South Dakota legislature is now that would strip Eileen and anyone else convicted of a felony of the right to vote, even if they never serve jail time and are living in their communities.
Measures designed to suppress the vote have been sweeping the nation, and South Dakota appears to be jumping on the bandwagon 鈥� but not if we can help it.
The Voting Rights Act gives the US Department of Justice (DOJ) the power to ensure that voting laws do not discriminate. to protect the right to vote in South Dakota and across the nation. And to pass the Democracy Restoration Act, which would let Eileen 鈥� and all Americans with past convictions who are living in their communities 鈥� vote in federal elections.
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Learn More 老澳门开奖结果 the Issues on This Page
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Election Day is Over. Why is the Electoral College Voting Now?Election Day is Over. Why is the Electoral College Voting Now?
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Voting Rights
Civil Rights Groups Respond to Flawed Trial Court Opinion on New York Voting Rights ActCivil Rights Groups Respond to Flawed Trial Court Opinion on New York Voting Rights Act
ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. 鈥� On November 7, a New York State Supreme Court trial judge issued an opinion striking down the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of New York (NYVRA). Today, the Legal Defense Fund, 老澳门开奖结果, LatinoJustice PRLDEF, Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, New York 老澳门开奖结果, and Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law issued the following statement in response to the ruling: 鈥淭he NYVRA is unquestionably constitutional, and protects the freedom to vote for all New Yorkers by helping to ensure voters are not subjected to discrimination when participating in the political process. 鈥淭he Nov. 7 decision by a state trial judge is deeply flawed and plainly incorrect. We fully expect the decision to be reversed on appeal. It flies in the face of basic legal principles and constitutes a stunning overreach in striking down the entire law, including provisions that are not at issue in the case. 鈥淭o put it simply, the NYVRA does not discriminate, it bans discrimination 鈥� and in doing so protects New Yorkers鈥� most fundamental right. 鈥淣ew York is stronger when everyone has an equal opportunity to vote.鈥�