CHICAGO—(ENEWSPF)—June 11, 2018
Contact: Jay Young
Statements of Common Cause Illinois on the Husted Decision:
“Every American deserves the chance to make their voice heard in our elections without fear of election officials targeting them because of their voting history,” said Common Cause president Karen Hobert Flynn. “But regardless of how the Court dressed up today’s ruling, the narrow majority just took another hostile step against the right to vote. The laws in most states are more protective of infrequent voters than the one the Court approved in Ohio. Still, many partisan officials are doubtless already studying this morning’s decision as a blueprint for disenfranchising political opponents. And we are prepared to fight back against further erosions to the right to vote.”
“The Husted decision joins a sad lineup of decisions from the Roberts Court – from Citizens United to Shelby County – that have done incredible damage to our democracy, by stripping protections from marginalized communities and vastly increasing the political power of the few at the expense of the of those who are severely underrepresented,” Flynn added. “History will not look kindly on this decision’s majority.”
“Today’s decision threatens the ability of voters to have their voices heard in our elections. It is a setback especially for those traditionally marginalized communities that are already underrepresented at the ballot box” said Jay Young, Acting Executive Director of Common Cause Illinois. “These are the folks that we have to stand up for. We will continue to fight in the courts, the legislature, and with our community partners to prevent states from erecting barriers to voting.”
To read the brief Common Cause filed in the case, click here.
Common Cause Illinois is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization dedicated to upholding the core values of American democracy. We work to create open, honest, and accountable government that serves the public interest; promote equal rights, opportunity and representation for all; and empower all people to make their voices heard in the political process.
Source: www.commoncause.org/IL