LULAC Applauds Federal Court’s Decision Declaring Wisconsin’s Voter ID Law Invalid

April 30, 2014

Contact: Paloma Zuleta, 202-833-6130, PZuleta (at) LULAC . org

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. District Court Judge Lynn Adelman struck down Wisconsin’s voter identification law. Judge Adelman found that the law was in violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act which specifically prohibits voting practices that discriminate on the basis of race. Judge Adelman also found that the law violated the 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution. The judge issued an injunction preventing the State of Wisconsin from enforcing the law.

“We applaud Judge Adelman’s decision to strike down a Voter ID law which would have prevented poor and minority citizens from exercising their right to vote,” said LULAC National President Margaret Moran. “LULAC believes that any roadblocks to voting should not be enforced because it cuts against the basic principles of our great democracy.”

Judge Adelman made clear in his opinion that opponents of the law had successfully shown that the law had “disproportionate impact” on certain voters. This case is significant because it marks the first time that Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act has been used to strike down a Voter ID law.

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) of Wisconsin served as lead plaintiff and was represented by Arnold & Porter, LLP and by The Advancement Project.

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s largest and oldest civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 1,000 councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC’s programs, services and advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting critical needs of today and the future. For more information, visit www.LULAC.org.

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