WARRENSVILLE HEIGHTS, OH— Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11) will testify at an official hearing of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights in Cleveland on Monday, May 7.  The hearing, being held by Senate Majority Whip and Subcommittee Chair Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), will examine the impact of Ohio’s new voting law, HB 194, which restricts early voting, eliminates the requirement that poll workers direct voters to the proper precinct, and makes it harder to vote absentee.

“Instead of helping more Americans to vote, we have elected officials in Ohio who would rather bring back long lines and create confusion at the polls in an attempt to shape the outcome of elections, particularly the 2012 election. What is happening in Ohio is not unique. By design, more than 30 states are erecting barriers to voting by pre-determined groups including seniors, students, minorities and the working poor.  I will continue to speak out wherever these efforts occur and certainly on behalf of voters in the 11th district,” said Congresswoman Fudge.

The election law changes in HB 194 reduce the number of early voting days in Ohio from 35 to 17, remove the requirement that poll workers direct voters to their proper precinct and prohibit county boards of elections from mailing unsolicited absentee ballots.  HB 194 will be subject to a ballot repeal measure in November.  While a measure currently under consideration by the Ohio House, SB 295, would reverse harmful provisions of HB 194 prior to a vote on the referendum, it is not a full repeal.  The new bill would retain a ban on voting during the weekend prior to an election. 

Congresswoman has been a leading advocate of protecting voting rights against the onslaught of state level legislation that makes it more difficult for millions of Americans to vote.

 

WHO:    U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (IL)
               U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (OH)
              (Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge to provide witness testimony)

WHAT:  Judiciary Subcommitte on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights
               Field Hearing:  "New State Voting Laws III: Protecting the Right to Vote in America's
               Heartland"

WHEN:   Monday, May 7, 2012 at 9:30 am

WHERE:  Carl B. Stokes U.S. Federal Courthouse
                 801 West Superior Avenue
                 Cleveland, Ohio 44113

 

For more information about the hearing, please contact:

Senator Brown's office: Meghan Dubyak/Allison Preiss   (202) 224-3978
Senator Durbin's office: Max Gleischman  (202) 228.5244

 

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