Congresswoman Terri Sewell issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Department of Justice threat to sue the State of Alabama for noncompliance with the National Voter Registration Act.

“It is deeply disappointing – but not surprising – that an ongoing investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice found that Alabama failed to comply with the National Voter Registration Act. The purpose of the National Voter Registration Act is to remove impediments to voter registration, and to encourage Alabamians to make their voices heard through the electoral process.

“Sadly, this comes on the heels of the decision by Alabama lawmakers’ to limit the hours of operation for many DMV offices around the state. Alabama's noncompliance with the National Voter Registration Act coupled with the limited access to DMV offices is further proof of the dire need to restore the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Alabamians have worked hard to put our painful past behind us, only to cast ourselves in the spotlight once more.

“We need not count marbles in a jar or memorize the name of every county in the state, but new barriers have replaced overt efforts to suppress voter turnout. These new barriers – such as Alabama's voter ID law – have been passed off as measures needed to protect the vote, but in reality they have only made it harder to vote.

“Shame on Alabama for not living up to the promise of equal access to the ballot box. We must make voter registration easier and protect the vote, rather than suppress it.”