WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Tuesday, October 31, Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell (D-AL) sent a letter to Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill, urging him not to pursue prosecution of nearly 700 crossover voters. Secretary Merrill has given county officials until November 6 to verify crossover voting information that can be used by local district attorneys to press charges against voters.

See the full letter to Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill on Crossover Voter Prosecution.

“I believe charging nearly 700 voters in Alabama with a felony crime is nothing more than a modern-day voter intimidation tactic, in line with a long and problematic history of voter suppression throughout the State.” said Rep. Sewell. “The right to vote is a pillar in our democracy and we cannot afford to turn back the clock by punishing those who attempt to civically engage. My concern is that the State of Alabama did not adequately disseminate information regarding the new law associated with crossover voting, nor did it sufficiently train election officials on preventing inadvertent violations of the new law. Common sense should prevail here so we can promote a fairer and more inclusive voting system that allows all Americans to exercise their constitutionally protected right to vote.”

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Rep. Terri A. Sewell (D-AL) is serving her fourth term representing Alabama’s 7th Congressional district. She sits on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and was recently appointed to the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. Sewell is a Chief Deputy Whip and serves on the prestigious Steering and Policy Committee of the Democratic Caucus. She is also a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, and serves as Vice Chair of the Congressional Voting Rights Caucus, and Vice Chair of Outreach for the New Democrat Coalition.