Tag Archives: Voters

Alabama county argues part of Voting Rights Act is unconstitutional

Posted on by
Alabama county argues part of Voting Rights Act is unconstitutional

Frank Ellis Jr., is the attorney for Shelby County, Ala. By Khara Persad/News21

The attorney for Shelby County, Ala., has filed a lawsuit that contests the constitutionality of Voting Rights Act sections that require federal oversight of any changes in election laws in all or portions of 17 states.

Attorney Frank Ellis Jr., argues in the lawsuit, which could reach the Supreme Court, that the requirements of sections 4(b) and 5 are a burden based upon voting discrimination practices that have disappeared since Congress passed the law in 1965.

“To require governments to spend tens of millions of dollars — local governments that need that money for other purposes, for education, for police protection, for facilities and infrastructure — it’s archaic and out of date,” Ellis said.

By Jack Fitzpatrick and Khara Persad, News21

Alabama NAACP leader talks about struggle to motivate voters

Posted on by
Alabama NAACP leader talks about struggle to motivate voters

Steve Branch is the Alabama state chair for voter registration. Photo by Khara Persad/News21

Steve Branch, the NAACP voter registration chairman for Alabama, is committed to getting voters out of their homes and into polling places, he said, but the challenge for the civil rights organization is convincing people that their votes can make a difference.

 

“We’re trying to get our people to vote not only in general elections, but in primaries and in anything else that comes up,” Branch said. “We’re trying to get into an election habit.”
It’s an uphill battle, Branch said, because many voters are apathetic and don’t believe that voting matters.

 

“I have to say to people, ‘Listen, you have to look at the vote as far as what’s happening in your community. You can change the county commissioner. You can change the circuit court judge. You may be able to change your county sheriff – people who are oppressing you. You can change this to work in your favor,’” Branch said.

By Jack Fitzpatrick and Khara Persad, News21

What if Wisconsin recall comes down to a recount?

Posted on by

Polling places in the Wisconsin recall election between Republican Gov. Scott Walker and Democratic challenger Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett will open at 7 a.m. CDT Tuesday, but a narrowing race could leave candidates waiting months for results.

Recent public opinion polls by Angus Reid and Public Policy Polling indicate a tightening race. Reid has Walker ahead by six points, 53 percent to 47 percent. PPP gives Walker a three-point advantage, 50-47 percent.

A narrow margin of victory for either candidate could prompt a recount, although in Wisconsin there is no automatic trigger. Candidates may request that votes be tallied again. Elections decided by less than a .5 percent margin can be recounted at no cost to the candidate, according to Wisconsin law.  If the margin of victory is more than .5 percent and less than 2 percent, candidates are required to pay $5 for every ward they request a recount.

If the election is decided by more than 2 percent, candidates who petition for a recount must assume all costs.

Within five days of a complete recount, candidates dissatisfied with the results may then appeal to circuit court and, eventually, appeals court, likely postponing certifying a winner for months.

By Annelise Russell, News21

 

Countdown to Wisconsin recall

Posted on by

A race that is being called the most important until the November
presidential election has brought national attention to Wisconsin.  Tomorrow’s recall election pits Republican Gov. Scott Walker against his 2010 Democratic opponent, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett.  Walker, who has raised raised roughly $30 million, has been applauded and chided for his fight to dismantle the
collective bargaining rights of public workers in Wisconsin. He could
become the first governor in the state’s history and only the third
in U.S. history to be recalled.

Barrett, a Democrat, could win the gubernatorial prize he sought in 2010.
His campaign hopes to motivate minority voters who supported then-presidential candidate Barack Obama in 2008 but stayed home during the 2010 state contest.

Both political parties see the race through a national lens with
implications for November. A Walker win could buoy Republicans
nationally, the Tea Party movement in particular. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty campaigned for Walker. Barrett, whose been behind in many polls, but got a boost last week with a
solid debate performance against Walker and a campaign stop Friday by former President Bill Clinton.

It’s high stakes for both sides, including a virtual army of union members, poll
watchers and other activists.

Follow us at @khantasha, @AJVicens and @WhoCanVote for
updates from Wisconsin throughout today and election day.

By AJ Vicens and Natasha Khan, News21

Countdown to Wisconsin recall

Deli owners in Alabama register voters

Posted on by

The owners of a deli in Birmingham, Ala., organized a daylong voter registration drive in the Pratt City neighborhood June 2. Five generations of the Agee family, owners of the Thomas Deli, flagged down drivers and pedestrians, encouraging them to sign up. They provided forms to register voters, helped them fill in their information and promised to deliver the completed forms to the county, which provided the family with 100 registration forms.

Deli owners in Alabama register voters

Claudia Agee and her family registered voters Saturday in Birmingham, Ala. Photo by Khara Persad/News21

Claudia Agee, 72, said she wants more for her hometown and said the local youth have to exercise their right to vote in order to make that happen.

“We’re trying to get the young people to vote to get them out in larger numbers, and trying to let them know the importance of voting,” she said. “They complain about a lot of things but they don’t know that if they don’t vote, staying at home is not going to help. Go vote and help voice your opinion. When you vote, then you have a voice.”

Deli owners in Alabama register voters

Debbie Agee helps Miara Hunt, a student at Lawson State Community College in Birmingham, fill out registration forms. Photo by Khara Persad/News21

Miara Hunt, 19, is a student at Lawson State Community College in Birmingham who stopped Saturday to register with the help of Debbie Agee, 54.

“I really want to vote. I’ve been waiting on this age limit so I can be able to vote for a long time. And now I’m able to do it, and I’m glad. And I want a good president,” Hunt said.

– By Jack Fitzpatrick and Khara Persad, News21

 

Coffee Break Ballot, June 1: Trends and Topics in Voting Rights News

Posted on by

News21’s investigation of national voting rights is ongoing, and the rest of the country is contributing to the dialogue.

Voting Rights, voter ID and the messy politics of redistricting likely will be major issues in the November election, and other media outlets and the Twittersphere seem to agree.

So every weekday at about this time — noon PDT, 3 p.m. EDT — News21 reporters will post links to articles, opinion pieces and trends that catch our eye here in the Phoenix newsroom at ASU’s Cronkite School.

It’s far from an exhaustive survey of current journalism on voting and elections, but it’s our  way of staying current.

For more of what we’re reading, be sure to follow us @WhoCanVote.

What We’ve Been Reading

“Holder’s Racial Incitement,” (editorial, 06/01, Wall Street Journal)

“Florida GOP Takes Voter Suppression to a Brazen New Extreme,” (Ari Berman, 05/30, Rolling Stone)

“Former attorney general: Economic policies will discourage Hispanics, not voter ID laws,” (Alberto R. Gonzales, 05/31, CNN.com)

“League of Women Voters of Florida v. Kurt S. Browning,” (U.S. District Judge Robert L. Hinckle, Ruling, 05/31, via Brennan Center for Justice)

Twitter Trends

According to Twitter search engine Topsy.com, mentions of the phrases “Voting Rights” and/or “#VotingRights” peaked for the month on May 31, with more than 1,300 mentions in a 24-hour period.

Among those mentioning voting rights in their tweets were dozens of opponents of the state of Florida’s removal of voters from registration lists, many urging people to sign an online petition.

Looking ahead, Twitter trends for the weekend reflect interest in Tuesday’s recall election in Wisconsin, as supporters and opponents of Gov. Scott Walker and his opponent, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, chatter about the dramatic finale of that state’s year-long political debate. #WIRecall isn’t trending worldwide — it isn’t even trending in Milwaukee — but we’ll have an update as Tuesday’s election nears.

News21 reporters, @AJVicens and @khantasha, will file from Wisconsin Tuesday. Follow them for more updates.

Hispanic organization reports low turnout in Austin, Texas

Posted on by

Despite efforts by advocacy groups to engage the Latino community, Austin’s Hispanic voters comprised just seven percent of the turnout in Travis County, said Linda Chavez, state director of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC).

That is typically low for the county, Chavez said, and she thinks the delayed Texas primary, originally scheduled for March 6, played a roll in the low turnout Tuesday.

The Latino community has a pattern of low voter turnout, and engaging future voters is a topic LULAC plans to discuss at its state convention June 7-10, Chavez said.

By Lindsey Ruta, News21