| WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representative Diana DeGette (D-CO) released the following statement regarding her vote against the Republican leadership’s so-called Federal Election Integrity Act of 2006, H.R. 4844.
"Congress should not be in the business of throwing up discriminatory road blocks between citizens and their right to vote. This cynical bill would have the greatest impact on the poor, seniors, and minorities, who are less likely to have driver’s licenses and least able to afford the necessary documents to prove their citizenship. This is nothing more than a modern day poll tax and that is why I voted against it.
“The Voting Rights Act of 1965 specifically outlawed poll taxes, literacy tests and other similar devices because they could be arbitrarily administered by local officials in a discriminatory manner. Requiring a government-issued photo ID when you vote would create similar barriers and hurdles for racial and ethnic minority voters and would have a chilling effect on voter participation.
“No American should have to pay to vote."
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