Institute for Policy Studies
News Release 6/5/01 
Karen Dolan 202-234-9382 ext 228 kdolan@igc.org
Amy Quinn 202-234-9382 ext 238 a-quinn@mindspring.com

US Commission on Civil Rights Reaffirms that Voting Rights Were Violated in Florida Presidential Election 2000; The Institute for Policy Studies and Pro-Democracy Groups express outrage, Chart Course of Action Toward a Voter Bill of Rights

"Despite the closeness of the election, it was widespread voter disenfranchisement and not the dead-heat contest that was the extraordinary feature in the Florida election." So states a damning US Commission on Civil Rights report that has resulted from a 6 month investigation of civil rights violations during the Florida 2000 Presidential election. 

The findings confirm widespread disenfranchisement of black voters. Fifty-four percent of the votes disqualified in the election were cast by African Americans who make up 11% of the state’s voters. The report confirms the lack of leadership on behalf of the Secretary of State's office and the Governor's office. The report also echoes the findings of a myriad of reports and lawsuits filed in the months following last November's contested Presidential election. The US Commission on Civil Rights finds an election rife with "injustice, ineptitude and inefficiency." Unequal access to current, more efficient voting equipment and obstacles at the polls resulted in disenfranchisement of black voters at alarming rates.

The Institute for Policy Studies decries these inexcusable violations of the Voting Rights Act and reaffirms its commitment to a Pro-Democracy Campaign which calls for a fundamental revamping of our deeply-flawed, undemocratic electoral system. Grassroots groups around the country have been actively engaged in a Pro-Democracy Campaign which will address the deep-seeded problems with our election process and urge others to join in our efforts. The Institute for Policy Studies, the Independent Progressive Politics Network, Global Exchange, the Center for Constitutional Rights, and more than 100 pro-democracy organizations nation-wide believe that in order to rectify the inefficient, non-democratic and discriminatory nature of our current electoral system, a 10 point Voter's Bill of Rights must be adopted. This Bill of Rights calls for: 1) Strict Enforcement of the Voting Rights Act; 2) Abolition of the Electoral College; 3) Clean Money Elections; 4) Instant Run-off Voting; 5) Proportional Representation 6)Voting Rights for Ex-Prisoners; 7) Making Voting Easier and More Reliable--same day registration, equal access to polls and new technology, new machines; 8) Easier Candidate Access to the Ballot, Media and Databases; 9) Independent and Non-Partisan Election Bodies; and 10) Statehood for the District of Columbia.

Hundreds of Citizens Organizations have joined the Pro- Democracy Campaign in support of the Voter Bill of Rights votersbillofrights.org. Leading the movement from outrage to electoral reform action are 150 young people who will participate in an electoral reform training institute in Florida, June 17-23 as part of Democracy Summer 2001, democracysummer.org. Civil Rights Leaders, Good Governance Groups, Unions, Teachers and Citizens will also gather just prior to the 4th of July in historic Philadelphia to chart a course for revamping the structures of our democracy at the Pro-Democracy Convention, June 29-July 1 pro-democracy.com