Forum Three: Intimidation and Deceptive Practices

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The 2006 elections showed us we still need to reform our elections system — from 18,000 "disappeared" votes in Sarasota Florida to deceptive flyers in Maryland to misleading robo-calls meant to keep people away from the polls, we've got a long way to go — and we've got to do it quickly, so reforms can be put in place in time for the 2008 elections.

People For the American Way and PFAW Foundation joined with the NAACP, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, SEIU, Video the Vote, and many other organizations to sponsor a forum on Capitol Hill to look at problems of voter suppression and possible legislative solutions. The forum, "Voter Suppression in the 21st Century: What Happens and How to Stop It" featured experts and activists from across the country, as well as some of the people working in Congress to make intimidation and deceptive practices a thing of the past by 2008.

Moderated by PFAW Director of Public Policy Tanya Clay House, the forum featured Congressman Keith Ellison; Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie; Michael Strautmanis, Chief Counsel for Senator Barack Obama; Prof. Daniel Tokaji, of Moritz College of Law at Ohio State University; Tova Wang, from The Century Foundation; and Hector Villagra, representing the ACLU of Orange County, CA.

Speakers and panelists talked about specific instances of deceptive practices that have occurred in recent elections, as well as the challenges that arise when trying to protect voters. The group paid particular attention to Senator Obama's Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act, which was recently introduced in the Senate.

The forum is the latest in a series of events sponsored by PFAW, PFAW Foundation, and the NAACP raising awareness about the need for election reform to ensure that every American has the right to vote and to have that vote counted as cast.

Ralph Neas and Hilary Shelton, NAACP's DC Director	Ralph Neas and Congressman Keith Ellison	Ralph Neas	Tanya Clay House
All panelists	Panelists	Panelists	Tova Wang, The Century Foundation
Hector Villagra, ACLU of Orange County, CA	Prof. Daniel Tokaji, Moritz College of Law	Hon. Mark Ritchie, MN Sec. of State	Michael Strautmanis, Sen. Obama's chief counsel

Speakers:

Hon. Mark Ritchie - Minnesota Secretary of State
Michael Strautmanis - Senator Obama's Chief Counsel
Prof. Daniel Tokaji - The Ohio State University, Moritz College of Law
Tova Wang - The Century Foundation
Hector Villagra - ACLU of Orange County CA

Sponsors:

People For the American Way/Foundation
NAACP

Co-Sponsors:

Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
Service Employees International Union
Progressive States Network
Common Cause
MALDEF
National Disability Rights Network
National Education Association

Date and Time

February 9, 2007, 10am-12pm

Location: