A federal court has rejected an appeal from the Republican National
Committee to modify a 30-year-old legal agreement that prevented it
from engaging in one of the most offensive forms of voter suppression:
targeting minority voters whose credentials were to be challenged once
they enter polling places.
The unanimous opinion of the three-judge-court of the United States
Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit was a stunning rebuke of an
ongoing effort by the RNC to use any means necessary to game the
outcome of elections.
"The RNC asks that our court vacate a decree that has as its central
purpose preventing the intimidation and suppression of minority
voters," the Court's discussion of the case began. "When, as here, a
party voluntarily enters into a consent decree not once, but twice,
and then waits over a quarter of a century before filing a motion to
vacate to modify the decree, such action gives us pause... At present,
appellant [the RNC] seeks review of the District Court's order denying
vacatur because it prefers not to comply with the Consent Decree at a
critical political juncture -- the upcoming election cycle."
In other words, the RNC was hoping to remove the legal bind it agreed
to three decades ago so that it could obstruct the voting process in
2012's swing states. The RNC knows that new voters might be
discouraged from voting because they would not want to assert their
voting rights if faced with polling place challenger. Moreover, the
RNC also knows that any delays in voting, such as long lines, would
likely prompt other would-be voters to go home.
According to University of California-Irvine election law professor
Rick Hasen, it is likely the RNC will appeal this ruling to the U.S.
Supreme Court.
--
Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time.
Have a great day,
Tommy
--
Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time.
Have a great day,
Tommy
--
Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups.
For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum
* Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/
* It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls.
* Read the latest breaking news, and more.
No comments:
Post a Comment