Attempts to disenfranchise voters of color.ACROSS THE COUNTRY, STATE AND FEDERAL LEGISLATORS ARE DEBATING whether to require people to show proof of citizenship when they register to vote and a photo ID when they vote. These measures would disproportionately disenfranchise dis·en·fran·chise tr.v. dis·en·fran·chised, dis·en·fran·chis·ing, dis·en·fran·chis·es To disfranchise. dis people of color Noun 1. people of color - a race with skin pigmentation different from the white race (especially Blacks) people of colour, colour, color race - people who are believed to belong to the same genetic stock; "some biologists doubt that there are important , particularly Blacks in many areas of the country. The momentum began back in 2004 when Arizona voters approved Prop. 200 that requires proof of citizenship for voter registration Voter registration is the requirement in some democracies for citizens to check in with some central registry before being allowed to vote in elections. An effort to get people to register is known as a voter registration drive. Centralized/compulsory vs. and public benefits statewide. Despite ongoing efforts to reverse Prop. 200, courts have upheld the law. This past year, however, the federal government issued a letter telling Arizona officials that they can't enforce the measure in federal elections. The law serves as a poll tax and shuts down community-based registration drives--effectively disenfranchising potential voters in Latino, Black and Native American communities, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Nina Perales of the Mexican American Mexican American n. A U.S. citizen or resident of Mexican descent. Mex  i·can-A·mer Legal Defense and Educational Fund. Prop. 200 spawned copycats in many other states: 13 in the first half of 2006 alone. While most states have been unsuccessful in passing these laws, their anti-immigrant message has been heard at the federal level. Earlier this year, Congress passed a law requiring proof of citizenship for Medicaid benefits starting June 2006. "There is a hysteria that undocumented immigrants are 'taking over everything,' 'stealing the American way The American way of life is an expression that refers to the "life style" of people living in the United States of America. It is an example of a behavioral modality, developed from the 17th century until today. of life,'" Perales said. "Now the hysterical people are saying, 'Undocumented immigrants are voting,' and we have to put in all of these incredibly repressive measures to make sure that's not happening, when they can't come up with a single example of an undocumented person voting." In late June, a Congressional committee was considering the Federal Election Integrity Act of 2006 (H.R. 4844). If passed, it would make it federal law to provide proof of citizenship for voter registration and require a current official photo ID at election polls. HERE'S A BREAKDOWN OF COPYCAT PROP. 200 BILLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY: Still Up for Debate: * Washington -- Initiative 356 has been proposed, though its sponsors say they're still researching the bill. Passed: * Georgia -- In April, the governor signed into law a bill requiring people to prove citizenship to access public benefits. It also requires law enforcement agencies A law enforcement agency (LEA) is a term used to describe any agency which enforces the law. This may be a local or state police, federal agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) or the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). to verify immigration immigration, entrance of a person (an alien) into a new country for the purpose of establishing permanent residence. Motives for immigration, like those for migration generally, are often economic, although religious or political factors may be very important. status. Shot down: * California, Georgia, Virginia, Alabama, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Washington--died in committee. * Colorado-removed from the ballot because of an election technicality. * Wisconsin -- passed the state legislature A state legislature may refer to a legislative branch or body of a political subdivision in a federal system. The following legislatures exist in the following political subdivisions: * Minnesota -- passed in the House, and then died in a Senate committee. At the federal level: * U.S. Congress now requires Medicaid recipients to show citizenship. * Congress is now considering H.R. 4844 to require proof of citizenship for voting. |
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