Press Releases

THOMPSON REQUEST DOJ SCRUTINY OF VOTER ID INITIATIVE

For Immediate Release         Contact: Synarus Green

March 7, 2012                                       202-531-4732

Thompson request DOJ scrutiny of Voter ID Initiative

Today, Congressman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) sent a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder asking the United States Department of Justice to give their opinion on Mississippi’s recently
voter identification ballot initiative.  In November of 2011, Mississippi passed Initiative 27 which if made in to law would require Mississippi voters to present a government-issued photo ID in order to vote.

Thompson wrote,

                         “It is unconscionable to think that creating a barrier, which has the potential of eliminating citizens from the voting process, is a fair and just plan for correcting the problems within this system... It is deeply
                         disturbing to see that the federal agencies designed to fight injustice would stand idly by and allow these repeated violations of the law to persist. The federal government should not remain silent on these

                         issues that go to the heart of what our nation stands for... Our constitution guarantees the right to cast a free and unfettered ballot and provisions within the Voting Rights Act were structured to preserve  

                         this right by preventing any state or municipality from infringing upon any person’s ability to vote...  The federal government should exert the effort necessary to correct these deviations from the law and

                         protect the rights of the American people.”