Rep. Hank Johnson's Statement on the Voter Empowerment Act

Statement

"Across the country, our Constitutional right to vote is under attack. Sweeping new state voter laws -- including an end to same-day registration, cuts to early voting, measures making it harder to register large groups of voters and voter ID laws -- create barriers for millions of voters trying to cast their ballot in 2012.

"That's why I'm proud to stand with my House Democratic colleagues who introduced the Voter Empowerment Act to protect and promote voting rights. Nothing is more fundamental in our democracy than the right to vote. We must reject any attempts to curtail citizens' access to the ballot. It's not right, it's not fair and it's un-American."

The Voter Empowerment Act, a comprehensive piece of legislation, will modernize voter registration, ensure equal access to the ballot box for all Americans and prohibit deceptive practices and voter fraud that keep people from exercising their constitutional right to vote. The legislation contains three main sections: improving access to the ballot, protecting the integrity of voting systems, and ensuring accountability in elections.

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