Today, Congresswoman Terri Sewell released a letter to Attorney General Loretta Lynch, calling for the Department of Justice to investigate the closing of 31 driver’s license offices in Alabama, a decision with disproportionately impacts residents of Alabama’s 7^th Congressional District.

“My office sent a letter to Attorney General Loretta Lynch calling for a full, and thorough investigation into the decision to close 31 driver’s license offices across Alabama. This ill-conceived decision left 8 out of the 14 counties in my district – which is the only majority minority district in the state – without a Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to issue an Alabama driver’s license.

“The real issue here is about access. Closing these license offices will severely limit access to the most popular form of photo identification used in voting – a state issued driver’s license.

“It is disappointing, and unconscionable that Alabama would heighten its requirements to vote without also increasing the available options to meet these requirements. Closing 31 driver’s license offices across the state only heightens the disparities in voting between low-income and higher-income communities, and would disproportionately impact the residents of the 7^th Congressional District.  These closures will potentially disenfranchise Alabama’s poor, elderly, disabled and black communities.

“My constituents are the least able, and least likely to have access to transportation – either public or private – and thus travel across county lines for a driver’s license.

“I am particularly appalled by this decision in light of the 50^th Anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery marches and the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965. Our nation should be moving forward in terms of expanding access to the vote. It’s utterly disappointing that my home state – the very state that launched the movement towards equality – is the same state that has become fertile ground for its demise.

“The renewed assault on our sacred, constitutionally protected to vote must be stopped. I look forward to working with Attorney General Lynch to stop this latest assault on our voting rights.”

To view the letter please click here

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