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Advocacy Blog
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Senate Committee to Consider Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Bill
Today the Senate Judiciary Committee approved S. 453, the Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2007, legislation intended to punish voter intimidation. As expected according to CQ ($$), the committee removed language that would allow private parties to bring lawsuits to block deceptive voting practices. This makes the language more alike a companion bill in the House, HR 1281 which passed in June.
Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., introduced the measure in January with the broad language to allow private parties rather than just the Justice Department to bring lawsuits. Such a private right of action is unusual and has generated concerns from the Justice Department. Even some civil rights groups worry that it could result in harassment lawsuits aimed at inhibiting voting, said Tanya Clay House, an attorney with the liberal group People for the American Way. In place of that broader private right of action, the bill's sponsors — who include Democrats Patrick J. Leahy of Vermont, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, and Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts — are expected to substitute language that would limit private parties to obtaining injunctions against the Justice Department to force compliance with the legislation's requirements.
Posted by Amanda Adams
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