Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, Congresswoman Terri Sewell (AL-07) issued the following statement in response to  U.S. District Judge Richard Leon’s refusal to issue a temporary injunction to overturn the unauthorized action by  Brian Newby, the executive director of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission,  allowing a U.S. elections official to change proof-of-citizenship requirements on the federal voting registration form and unlawfully burdening potential voters in Alabama, Kansas, and Georgia and without public notice:

“Today’s ruling marks another example of restrictive efforts to suppress the vote of eligible voters under the guise of circumventing voter fraud. Alabama has a storied history of voter suppression, and this ruling underscores the importance of the need for federal preclearance for changes to voting practices and procedures that could have a discriminatory impact.

“As the 2016 Presidential Election cycle continues, it is critically important that we recognize and defend against any attempts to create modern day barriers to the ballot box that disenfranchise the most vulnerable members of our community.  Instead of making voting more difficult, we should be working to ensure that every American is able to exercise their constitutionally protected right.

“I will continue to call upon Congress to pass and enact meaningful legislation that restores key protections under the Voting Rights Act. All who believe in our great democracy should fight to ensure a fair and inclusive election process for all.”

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