[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 13433]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    IMPORTANCE OF VOTER PROTECTIONS

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 2, 2012

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, the freedom to vote for our elected 
leaders is the very heart of our democracy and the most basic of rights 
in our representative government. Unfortunately, several states across 
the nation have enacted laws that would impede the ability of millions 
of Americans across our country from exercising this right. Throughout 
the nation, including in my home district of Guam, many voters have 
lost faith in the integrity of the electoral process or become 
complacent that their vote is irrelevant.
   In Guam, voter turnout has decreased significantly over the last 
several years and allegations of election misconduct have become common 
during every election cycle. Many of my constituents have been 
disenfranchised much in the same way as in some states trying to lower 
voter turnout. I have raised this issue with the Department of Justice, 
and I hope they will focus on this issue in every state and territory 
where efforts to disenfranchise voters are being made.
   The free exercise of the right to vote is the cornerstone of 
American democracy, and it ensures that government is accountable to 
and representative of the people.

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