[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 182 (Wednesday, November 30, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H7942]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           VOTER SUPPRESSION

  (Mr. Clay asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. CLAY. Madam Speaker, the attempt to intimidate, discourage, or 
otherwise prevent certain people from voting has a long and notorious 
history. Unfortunately, voter suppression isn't just a part of our 
past; it's a current event.
  Southern States used tactics such as literacy tests and poll taxes to 
deny African Americans, Native Americans, and poor immigrants their 
right to vote. While civil rights achievements in the 1960s did away 
with these tactics, the strategy continues. The old ways have been 
replaced with voter ID laws, outrageous registration requirements, 
dishonest inactive voter lists, unfair purging of voter rolls, 
disinformation campaigns, and unlawful disenfranchisement of ex-
offenders.
  Madam Speaker, when anyone's right to vote is threatened, we're all 
threatened. We need to stop these blatant attempts to deny American 
citizens the right to vote.

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