The Republican plan for '08?

Legalized voter suppression

Republicans in Congress are trying to ram through a bill that would require voters in federal elections to show a government-issued photo ID, under the guise of preventing fraud. There's virtually no evidence that the kind of fraud this bill would prevent even exists. The only predictable effect is that voting would become impractical for millions of Americans who don't have such ID--the elderly and the poor--and, as a result, many of them will choose to simply not vote.

Suppressing the vote is anti-democratic and un-American. Please join us in calling on all members of Congress to reject HR 4844. Then please ask your friends and family to do the same.

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Read the e-mail message that we sent to our members about this petition.

Here is the letter that will be delivered to your representative in congress, unless your create your own. The letter will have your name on it.

Dear <your representative's name>,

I am writing you to urge you to vote against HR 4844. This bill is almost certain to disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of eligible voters, if not more, and does nothing to better the health of our democracy.

The proponents of HR 4844 claim that it is designed to prevent fraud, yet there is virtually no evidence that the type of fraud this bill would prevent even exists. The only certain outcome is that voting will become impractical (and expensive) for the elderly and the poor--those who are least likely to have such IDs.

Our democracy is at its healthiest when participation in the political process is maximized. This bill does the opposite--it suppresses participation, on a large scale, under the guise of combating a problem that is so small, it is almost impossible to detect.

For Congress to allow this attack on voting rights to stand would be shameful. HR 4844 is anti-democratic and un-American. I find it reprehensible and would expect that you, as an elected official who understands the importance of democracy, would as well. Please vote NO on HR 4844 and urge your colleagues to do the same.

Sincerely,

[your name here]