FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          CR
THURSDAY, MAY 5, 1994                              (202) 616-2765
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888

     STATEMENT BY ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR CIVIL RIGHTS
   DEVAL L. PATRICK ON TODAY'S COURT APPROVAL OF PENNSYLVANIA'S
            PLAN TO COMPLY WITH THE "MOTOR-VOTER" LAW


     WASHINGTON, D.C. --  A federal judge in Philadelphia today
has approved a plan submitted by the state of Pennsylvania to
comply with the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA).  Under
the plan, the state will provide voter registration opportunities
by June 1.  In March, the U.S. District Court judge upheld the
law's constitutionality.    
     Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Deval L. Patrick
issued the following statement:

     "We are extremely pleased that the court has approved the
state's plan for complying with the National Voter Registration
Act.  We commend the state for taking the steps to implement a
law that simplifies voter registration for Pennsylvanians." 
     
     "Millions of Americans already are benefitting from this
common sense law -- now millions of Pennsylvanians can benefit as
well."  


     U.S. District Courts in California and Illinois have held
the NVRA to be constitutional as well.
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