Cindy Carr, (202) 495-3034 or cindy.carr@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Yesterday, U.S. District Court Judge John Michael Vazquez ruled that the 1982 consent decree limiting the Republican National Committee’s ability to challenge voters inside polling locations has been terminated as of Dec. 1, 2017. The decree was originally enacted due to the RNC attempting to suppress African American voters.
This ruling will allow political party members in certain states to challenge voters inside polling locations, leaving voters vulnerable to intimidation. Monday’s decision comes just two days before the opening arguments of the Supreme Court’s Husted v. APRI case, which is seeking to illegally purge Ohio voting rolls.
In response, Sierra Club Democracy Program Director Courtney Hight released the following statement:
“Attacks on Americans’ right to vote are as un-American as it gets. For decades, many Republican leaders have been trying to usurp the people’s power by suppressing voters, and yesterday’s ruling provides yet another potential avenue to block voters. The Sierra Club stands with all those who are fighting for a fair and open democracy, and we will continue to work to ensure that every American has the right to vote.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.