Cohen, Civil Rights Leaders, Members of Congress Stand Up for Voting Rights at Capitol

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN-9) today joined Rev. Jesse Jackson, other Civil Rights leaders and members of Congress to stand up for voting rights at the U.S. Capitol and to draw attention to recent restrictive voting measures that will strip citizens of their constitutional right to vote, including in Tennessee.

“It is important that we always stand up for voting rights,” said Congressman Cohen. “We cannot let anyone be denied their constitutional right to vote. Just this year, the GOP in my state of Tennessee enacted a new law requiring voters to prove American citizenship and present photo ID at the polls. I’m extremely worried about the effect it will have on voters who want to exercise their constitutional right to participate in our great democracy. There is no more sacred right in this country than the right to vote. All of our other rights stem from the ability to have our voices heard.”

Congressman Cohen is joining Congresswoman Marcia Fudge (D-OH-11) in preparing and sending a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder urging the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate whether photo ID laws violate the Voting Rights Act. In 2011, 47 states either had restrictive voter ID laws in place or saw them introduced. Eleven percent of voting age citizens in this country -- more than 20 million people -- lack government ID.

Congressman Cohen has also asked Attorney General Holder to look into a new Tennessee law requiring voters to prove American citizenship and present a valid government photo ID at the polls. If voters can’t show proper ID, they can vote by provisional ballot and will have four days to get their government-issued ID and present it to the Election Commission. All ballots will be cross-referenced with state and federal records to make sure every voter is a U.S. citizen. State issued driver’s license, passports, and military IDs will be accepted forms of identification. School IDs will not be allowed.

Laws requiring photo ID drastically discourage voting, specifically for African-Americans, Latinos, seniors, and students because they are least likely to have the proper form of ID. Other laws in states across the country target these populations by reducing the time allotted for early voting and eliminating the requirement that poll workers direct voters to correct precincts.

Most state legislatures have enacted, or have proposed legislation, echoing similar detrimental voting changes. Many of these bills have only one true purpose: The disenfranchisement of specific populations of eligible voters.

The following organizations and leaders attended today’s news conference:

• Rev. Jesse Jackson, Rainbow PUSH Coalition
• Wade Henderson, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
• Janaye Ingram, National Action Network
• Barbara Arnwine, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
• Laura Murphy, American Civil Liberties Union
• Hilary Shelton, NAACP
• Rafael Collazo, National Council of La Raza/Democracia USA
• Miles Rapoport, Demos
• Nicole Austin-Hillery, Brennan Center for Justice
• Jim Dickson, AAPD

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