WHEREAS:

Our nation's history has been tarnished by sordid attempts to suppress the minority vote; and

WHEREAS:

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was designed to put an end to these dishonest and criminal efforts to deny the most basic civil rights to minorities; and

WHEREAS:

Forty years have passed since the enactment of the Voting Rights Act, yet elected and party officials still frequently engage in transparent attempts to suppress minority votes through arbitrary purging of voter rolls, voter intimidation and other illegal actions; and

WHEREAS:

Minority voters in many states still report the kind of voter suppression activities that originally prompted the civil rights movement and the passage of the Voting Rights Act and, more recently, the Help America Vote Act.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That AFSCME supports federal and state legislation making it a crime, punishable by fines and imprisonment, to attempt to suppress registration and turnout of eligible voters; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME opposes federal and state legislation claiming to forestall 'voter fraud,' such as required proof of identity to vote, when that legislation is a thinly veiled disguise for providing a statutory basis for continuing efforts to suppress the minority vote; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:

That AFSCME will work to promote legislation at the federal and state level that will ensure all citizens of the United States will have access to the ballot box, and will receive a paper receipt of their vote, regardless of their race, ethnicity or national origin.

SUBMITTED BY:

Jeanette Wynn, President and Delegate
AFSCME Council 79
Florida