Leadership Conference on Civil Rights Press Release

Civil Rights Coalition Applauds Senate Adoption of Increased Election Reform Funding

For Immediate Release: October 23, 2003
Contact: Rob Randhava 202-466-6058

WASHINGTON— The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR), the nation’s oldest, largest and most diverse civil and human rights coalition, issued the following statement regarding today’s vote by the Senate to approve $1.5 billion in appropriations for the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA). The strong showing of Senate support came in the form of an amendment to H.R. 2989, the Treasury-Transportation Appropriations legislation for Fiscal Year 2004.

“We are delighted that the Senate has taken another huge step in leaving the problems of the 2000 election debacle behind us,” stated Wade Henderson, Executive Director of LCCR. “In passing the Dodd-McConnell amendment, the Senate has done its part to make election reform a reality.”

The amendment voted on today, offered by a bipartisan group of Senators led by Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.) and Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), increases funding for the Help America Vote Act of 2002 by $1 billion over the amount that had previously been allocated. The funding will allow states and localities to fulfill the requirements of the new law, which include the upgrading of voting machines, creating statewide voter registration databases, allowing voters to cast provisional ballots if their eligibility is in dispute, and improving accessibility for voters with disabilities. The increased funding must now be retained in the final version of the appropriations bill, to be hammered out in a joint House-Senate conference committee.

Since HAVA was enacted in 2002, LCCR has repeatedly urged Congress to fully fund the new law. “No civil right is more fundamental to America’s democracy than the right to vote,” Henderson continued. “As we commit billions of dollars to promote democracies abroad, Congress must ensure the legitimacy of our electoral processes right here at home.”

“Today’s vote sends a strong signal that the Senate takes election reform seriously,” stated Henderson. “We greatly appreciate the tireless efforts of Senators Dodd and McConnell. Now it is up to the House, in the upcoming conference committee, to follow through with the same level of commitment.”