The Republican Party’s 50-Year Assault on Voting Rights And how you can fight back ! by Sherwood Guernsey, Esq. Lee Harrison with Johanna Dombrowski August 2015 Why Can’t I Vote? WHY CAN’T I VOTE November 2015 by Sherwood Guernsey, Esq. Lee Harrison with Johanna Dombrowski CREDITS & THANKS Striking cover design: Ben Hillman of Ben Hillman & Company – www.benhillman.com Insightful review and editing: James Mahon, Woodrow Wilson Professor of Political Science, Williams College Why Can’t I Vote? CONTENTS 1 A NATION AT RISK ........................................................................................................... 1‐1 A nation at risk ....................................................................................................................... 1‐2 What you can do! ................................................................................................................... 1‐3 2 ‘A BRIEF HISTORY OF VOTING RIGHTS IN AMERICA ......................................................... 2‐1 Jefferson’s vision .................................................................................................................... 2‐1 LEST WE FORGET .................................................................................................................. 2‐2 African Americans .................................................................................................................. 2‐2 Freedom Summer ............................................................................................................ 2‐3 Women’s Right to Vote .......................................................................................................... 2‐3 3 REPUBLICANS’ 50‐YEAR ASSAULT ON VOTING RIGHTS .................................................... 3‐1 50 years in the Making ........................................................................................................... 3‐2 Operation Eagle Eye ............................................................................................................... 3‐3 How it began .................................................................................................................... 3‐3 Eagle Eye opens ............................................................................................................... 3‐4 How Eagle Eye worked ........................................................................................................... 3‐4 1. Purging Voter Lists through Vote Caging .................................................................... 3‐4 2. The Distribution of Deterrent Paraphernalia .............................................................. 3‐5 3. The Deployment of Poll Watchers to Challenge Voters on Election Day ................... 3‐5 Eagle Eye’s Legacy .................................................................................................................. 3‐7 Son of Eagle Eye ............................................................................................................... 3‐8 BEHIND THE CURTAIN ............................................................................................................ 3‐8 The Fear Driving tea party republicans .................................................................................. 3‐9 GOP Contempt for minority voters ...................................................................................... 3‐10 4 THE THREAT TO VOTING RIGHTS TODAY ......................................................................... 4‐1 The Republican South Leads the Charge ............................................................................... 4‐1 iii Why Can’t I Vote Lone Star Dimming ................................................................................................................. 4‐5 Virginia ................................................................................................................................... 4‐6 South Carolina ........................................................................................................................ 4‐6 Mississippi .............................................................................................................................. 4‐7 Alabama ................................................................................................................................. 4‐7 Arizona ................................................................................................................................... 4‐7 Arkansas ................................................................................................................................. 4‐8 Iowa ........................................................................................................................................ 4‐8 Indiana ................................................................................................................................... 4‐8 Montana ................................................................................................................................. 4‐9 Nebraska ................................................................................................................................ 4‐9 North Dakota.......................................................................................................................... 4‐9 Tennessee .............................................................................................................................. 4‐9 Florida .................................................................................................................................. 4‐10 Outrage in Wisconsin ........................................................................................................... 4‐10 The Final Say ........................................................................................................................ 4‐11 5 HEADING TO THE SUPREME COURT ................................................................................ 5‐1 The United States Supreme Court Decision: Shelby County v. Holder, 133 S. Ct. 2612 (U.S. 2013) ...................................................................................................................................... 5‐1 North Carolina ........................................................................................................................ 5‐2 North Carolina: N.C. State Conf. of the NAACP v. McCrory, 997 F. Supp. 2d 322 (M.D.N.C. 2014) ................................................................................................................................ 5‐2 Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals: League of Women Voters of N.C. v. North Carolina, 2014 U.S. App. LEXIS 18764, 1 (4th Cir. N.C. 2014) .................................................................. 5‐3 Wisconsin ............................................................................................................................... 5‐3 WISCONSIN: Frank v. Walker, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 59344 (E.D. Wis. Apr. 29, 2014)..... 5‐4 Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals: Frank v. Walker, 766 F.3d 755, 756 (7th Cir. Wis. 2014)5‐4 Texas: ..................................................................................................................................... 5‐5 Why Can’t I Vote? TEXAS: Veasey v. Perry, U.S. District Court of Southern Texas, CIVIL ACTION NO. 13‐CV‐ 00193 LEXIS 174916 (SD Tex Dec 11, 2013). .................................................................... 5‐5 6 THE VOTE YOU PROTECT COULD BE YOUR OWN ............................................................. 6‐7 Together, We Have the Power ............................................................................................... 6‐8 A Call to Action ....................................................................................................................... 6‐8 Voter Registration for the 21st Century ................................................................................ 6‐9 Organizing a Voter Protection Campaign ............................................................................ 6‐12 Step 1: Organize a Core Group............................................................................................ 6‐12 Step 2: identify the problem – Get Educated ..................................................................... 6‐12 Step 3: ID the people affected ............................................................................................ 6‐13 Step 4: Raise Money ............................................................................................................ 6‐14 Step 5: Raise Awareness and Motivate ............................................................................... 6‐14 Social Media ................................................................................................................... 6‐15 Press Releases ................................................................................................................ 6‐15 Meetings and Local Events ............................................................................................ 6‐15 Direct Mail ...................................................................................................................... 6‐15 Phone‐Banking ............................................................................................................... 6‐16 Boots on the Ground ...........................................................................................................