MIAMI, FLORIDA – Today, Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.), issued the following statement on the 10^th Anniversary of the Help America Vote Act:

“After the 2000 election fiasco in Florida, Congress took the bold and bipartisan step of passing the Help America Vote Act, which has helped states make sure ballots are counted accurately, makes it easier for military personnel to vote, and ensures that polling places are accessible to those with disabilities. I am proud to join in marking this important anniversary,” says Congresswoman Wilson.

The Help America Vote Act which was signed into law on October 29, 2002, includes measures to create a uniform, nationwide voter registration database to protect against fraud, set standards for holding voting systems accountable, help military service members vote from overseas, and create voter education programs for high school students nearing voting age.

Congresswoman Wilson says Congress must now go a step further to ensure our voting sytem is the fairest and most secure in the world, by passing the Voter Empowerment Act to protect voter access. The Voter Empowerment Act would ensure equal access to the ballot box for all eligible voters, ban purges of the voter rolls, and crack down on deceptive practices that discourage voters from turning out. In the wake of discriminatory new laws being passed in some states, which make it more difficult for seniors, students, African Americans and Hispanics to exercise our most basic right, the Voter Empowerment Act will supplement the reforms of the Help America Vote Act by preventing a new disaster where millions might be turned away on Election day.

###

U.S. Rep. Frederica S. Wilson is a first-term Congresswoman from Florida representing parts of Northern Miami-Dade and Southeast Broward counties. A former state legislator and school principal, she is the founder of the 5000 Role Models for Excellence Project, a mentoring program for young males at risk of dropping out of school.