Voter Rights Amendment Passes Illinois House
From the Springfield State Journal-Register
The Illinois House voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to approve a proposed constitutional amendment to block voter suppression in Illinois.
The proposed amendment, HJRCA 52, passed the House on a 109-5 vote. It needed 71 votes for approval.
Sponsored by House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, the amendment says a person cannot be denied the right to vote based on race, color, ethnicity, member of a language minority, national origin, religion, sexual orientation or income.
“The purpose of the amendment is to ensure that all citizens have an opportunity to register and vote and to prevent the passage of inappropriate voter-suppression laws and discriminatory voting procedures,” Madigan said.
In some states, laws have been enacted requiring voters to show ID cards or take other steps before they are allowed to vote. Proponents of the laws say they are intended to prevent fraud. In many instances, Democrats argue that the laws are aimed at poor and minority voters who are more likely to vote Democratic.
Madigan agreed there have been no instances of a person being denied the right to register or vote based on the criteria set out in the amendment. However, he said the amendment will prevent future General Assemblies from enacting voter-suppression laws.
“We don’t know what the future holds,” Madigan said.
Read more in our daily News Update...
From the Springfield State Journal-Register
The Illinois House voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to approve a proposed constitutional amendment to block voter suppression in Illinois.
The proposed amendment, HJRCA 52, passed the House on a 109-5 vote. It needed 71 votes for approval.
Sponsored by House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, the amendment says a person cannot be denied the right to vote based on race, color, ethnicity, member of a language minority, national origin, religion, sexual orientation or income.
“The purpose of the amendment is to ensure that all citizens have an opportunity to register and vote and to prevent the passage of inappropriate voter-suppression laws and discriminatory voting procedures,” Madigan said.
In some states, laws have been enacted requiring voters to show ID cards or take other steps before they are allowed to vote. Proponents of the laws say they are intended to prevent fraud. In many instances, Democrats argue that the laws are aimed at poor and minority voters who are more likely to vote Democratic.
Madigan agreed there have been no instances of a person being denied the right to register or vote based on the criteria set out in the amendment. However, he said the amendment will prevent future General Assemblies from enacting voter-suppression laws.
“We don’t know what the future holds,” Madigan said.
Read more in our daily News Update...