(Community Matters) Considering recent GOP state led voter suppression initiatives such as voter ID laws, fewer voting locations in communities of color, indiscriminate purging of voter lists, outside campaigns of intimidation, and reduced early voting days, one would think it’s not a good time to argue Federal protections aren’t still necessary to ensure citizens’ right to vote
Lawmakers proposed 62 photo ID bills in 37 states in the 2011 and 2012 sessions, with multiple bills introduced in some states. Ten states have passed strict photo ID laws since 2008, though several may not be in effect in November because of legal challenges.
A News21 analysis found that more than half of the 62 bills were sponsored by members or conference attendees of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a Washington, D.C.-based, tax-exempt organization. At ALEC’s annual conferences, legislators, nonprofits and corporations work together without direct public input to develop bills that promote smaller government.
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