Civil and voting rights advocates call on Congress for significant reform in wake of 2006 flawed elections

Civil and voting rights advocates call on Congress for significant reform in wake of 2006 flawed elections

Civil and voting rights groups on Monday detailed systemic problems voters faced during the 2006 mid-term elections and outlined a federal legislative agenda for the 110th Congress to fix them. The forum, “Elections Looking Forward,” was sponsored by the Center for American Progress, The Century Foundation, Common Cause and the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights.

“Too many citizens could not vote in this past election either because voting machines weren’t working, voter registration systems were confusing or inaccurate, or administrative failures led to unacceptably long lines at the polls.” said Barbara Burt, director of election reform programs at Common Cause. “As a country we must do better.”

At the forum, election experts urged Congress to take actions that would:

Expand the avenues for voter registration, encourage increased voter turnout, and make it easier for citizens to determine their voter registration status.

Decrease the burdens on voters from inefficient or faulty voter registration procedures by removing technical and other barriers to voter registration.

Enact protections to address security, reliability, accessibility, and usability problems with electronic voting systems and to increase confidence in our electoral system.

Enact measures to prevent voter disenfranchisement on or near Election Day, including by those seeking to thwart attempts by eligible voters to go to the polls.

Ensure that our systems of election administration have adequate resources and serve the voters.