FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CR MONDAY, JUNE 5, 1995 (202) 616-2765 TDD (202) 514-1888 STATEMENT BY ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR CIVIL RIGHTS DEVAL L. PATRICK ON TODAY'S APPELLATE COURT RULING UPHOLDING THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THE "MOTOR-VOTER" LAW WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit today upheld the constitutionality of the National Voter Registration Act, or the "motor-voter" law. Today's action affirms a decision earlier this year by the U.S. District Court in Chicago. Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Deval L. Patrick issued the following statement: "We are extremely pleased with today's favorable decision - the first by an appellate court - upholding the constitutionality of the National Voter Registration Act. We are pleased that the citizens of Illinois will join millions around the nation who are benefitting from this law. Today's favorable decision by the Court of Appeals follows similar victories in federal district courts in California and Pennsylvania. The decision sends a clear message that Congress was well within its authority to pass a law making it easier for all Americans to register to vote. Today's decision also reaffirms the lower court's opinion that the state had no legal basis for failing to comply with such a common sense law. Motor-voter is government made easy -- one stop shopping. Already the law is producing tremendous results across the country. Millions of Americans already are benefiting from this law -- now millions of citizens of Illinois can, as well. # # # 95-312