Election Protection Coalition Charges GOP-Connected Groups with Voter Suppression and Intimidation Campaign

Interview with Elliot Minceberg, People for the American Way Foundation, conducted by Scott Harris

In the weeks before Americans go to the polls to choose their next president, reports of organized efforts to intimidate voters or suppress the turnout have streamed in from across the country. Allegations of politically motivated conduct to disenfranchise voters have been widespread and focused particularly on Republican Party activities in battleground states.

Charges include actions taken by state and local officials to deliberately place roadblocks to recording hundreds of thousands of newly registered voters; improperly purging voters with felony convictions; efforts to deter Native Americans from casting ballots; and plans to dispatch police and political activists to minority polling places in order to challenge likely Democratic voters. Florida, the center of the 2000 election debacle, is again the focus of controversy over alleged actions there by Gov. Jeb Bush, the president's brother, to disenfranchise African Americans and other new voters.

Sproul & Associates, a Republican Party consulting firm, is now under criminal investigation for allegedly posing as a non-partisan group that signed up new voters in several swing states, processing forms signed by Republicans while discarding applications signed by Democrats. In the view of many, the flaws in new electronic voting machines present another threat to a clean election. Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Elliot Minceberg, vice president and legal director with People for the American Way Foundation, who examines the charges that Republicans are working keep their opponents from voting and the measures being taken by the Election Protection Coalition to insure that all eligible voters can cast a ballot and have their votes counted.

To get more information about the work of the Election Protection Coalition, or to report election irregularities, call 1-866-OUR-VOTE toll free or visit the coalition's website at www.electionprotection2004.com

Related links:

People for the American Way at www.pfaw.org

"Big G.O.P. Bid to Challenge Voters at Polls in Key State," by Michael Moss, The New York Times, Oct. 23, 2004

"The Coming Post-Election Chaos," by John Dean, FindLaw, Oct. 22, 2004

"New Florida Vote Scandal Feared," By Greg Palast, BBC, Oct. 27, 2004

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