[Previous entry: "Developed countries taking money back from Africa: UN"] [Next entry: "Public Hearings On Land Reform Underway"]

10/19/2004:

"African American Voters Face Sadly Familiar Obstacles to Voting"

African American Voters Face Sadly Familiar Obstacles to Voting, Says Swarthmore College Voting Expert

SWARTHMORE, Oct. 18 (AScribe Newswire) -- The voting rights of some African Americans are still partially abridged, contrary to the 15th Amendment, now more than 130 years old. The problem will affect the 2004 presidential election and raises the possibility yet again of a presidential election outcome being connected to some rate of minority vote suppression, says a Swarthmore College voting expert.

"African Americans are very loyal to the Democratic party," says Professor of Political Science Richard Valelly '75, the author of a new book on the struggle for black enfranchisement. "Due to the residential hypersegregation that still exists in the U.S., pro-Republican operatives seeking to keep some number of black voters away from the polls know where to run their so-called 'ballot security' programs -- such things as leaflets with false warnings about ID requirements and the penalties for failing to meet them, or fake phone calls purporting to be from the NAACP telling elderly people to stay home. These programs have been around for decades, and unfortunately they have been connected to the Republican party."

Full Article : ascribe.org