Election Reform

3/12/08: Dodd Speaks Out Against Proposal that Would Require Voters to Have Photo ID

March 12, 2008

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), a senior member of the Senate Rules Committee, made the following statement in opposition to the adoption of universal photo ID voting requirements currently under debate in the Rules Committee.  Dodd was the coauthor of the landmark Help America Vote Act (HAVA). 

 

“The notion of widespread fraud by individual voters misrepresenting who they are at polling places is a popular myth, which has been thoroughly debunked.  For years, various parties – including the US Congress, the esteemed Carter-Baker Commission, the Department of Justice, and comprehensive academic studies have been unable to document widespread in-person voter fraud.  Adoption of universal photo ID requirements in response to this myth would effectively suppress the voting rights of eligible voters across the country.

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( published in: Election Reform | Media Center | Press Releases and Statements | Safeguarding Our Democracy )

3/27/07: Statement of Senator Dodd on Nomination of Sam Fox

March 27, 2007

“I strongly oppose the nomination of Sam Fox to be U.S. Ambassador to Belgium. U.S. Ambassadors need to be both responsible and credible, and Mr. Fox’s support for an organization known to have spread falsehoods illustrates neither.

 

“Moreover, the fact that Mr. Fox refused to apologize for his behavior during his nomination hearing reinforces my belief that he would not be an acceptable representative for the position of U.S. Ambassador.”

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( published in: Election Reform | Foreign Affairs & Human Rights | Media Center | Safeguarding Our Democracy | Statements )

3/01/07: Dodd Introduces Election Reform Legislation

March 1, 2007

Today, Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) reintroduced the Voting Opportunity and Technology Enhancement Rights (VOTER) Act of 2007 as part of his ongoing effort to ensure that all Americans are fully able to participate in elections, and to help restore public confidence in our nation’s voting systems.  A senior Democrat on the Rules Committee, Senator Dodd is a longtime leader on election reform issues and an original author of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), comprehensive election reform legislation enacted in 2002 in the wake of the debacle of the 2000 presidential election. HAVA included a number of critical reforms to ensure safer, more secure and transparent balloting procedures for federal elections, and provided substantial funding to enable states and localities to upgrade antiquated voting systems and procedures.  

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( published in: Election Reform | Media Center | Press Releases and Statements | Safeguarding Our Democracy )

10/31/06: Senator Dodd: Before You Vote, Know Your Rights

October 31, 2006

Today, the Miami Herald published the following op-ed by Senator Dodd on voters' rights.  Senator Dodd co-authored the Help America Vote Act and is the Ranking Member on the Senate Rules Committee.

Americans will soon go to the polls under new rules for federal elections, the Help America Vote Act. Avoiding a one-size-fits-all approach, HAVA set minimum national election standards but left responsibility for implementation to states and localities. Voters are relying on state and local officials to effectively implement the new law while ensuring full compliance and being ready to address problems like those that emerged in primary elections across the country.
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( published in: Editorials & Op-eds | Election Reform | Media Center )

9/22/06: Dodd, Senate Democrats Decry Modern Day ‘Poll Tax’; Flawed Legislation Would Require Passport to Vote

September 22, 2006

Washington, DC—Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) today joined Democratic Leader Harry Reid and Senators Edward Kennedy and Barack Obama to send the following letter to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, calling on the Republican Leader to put aside any plans to bring the House voter ID legislation to the Senate floor. In a year when the Congress finally passed a reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act, the Democrats urged Senator Frist not to attempt to pass legislation that has been likened to a modern-day poll tax and would disenfranchise thousands.
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( published in: Election Reform | Media Center | Press Releases and Statements )

8/04/06: Dodd Hails Connecticut's Choice of HAVA-Compliant Voting Systems

August 4, 2006

HARTFORD- Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) today hailed Connecticut’s choice of voting machines which are in accordance with the Federal requirements of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), which became law in 2002. Connecticut Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz today announced the selection of vendors which will provide new voting systems for Connecticut voters in time for the November elections.
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( published in: Disability Rights | Election Reform | Media Center | Press Releases and Statements | Safeguarding Our Democracy )

7/21/06: Statement of Senator Dodd on Reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act

July 20, 2006

“The Voting Rights Act was enacted as a response to the pervasive and explicit evidence of disfranchisement of African-Americans and other voters.   It was designed to protect and preserve the voting rights of all Americans.  Since 1965, the VRA has been the cornerstone of voting rights in America and its success is a tribute to those who labored so hard to create it.  And while progress has certainly been made, we still have many more obstacles to overcome.   Progress can not be left to serendipity.   It must be guided by the rule of law.   A little more than five years ago we had an election in this country that forced us to confront the harsh reality that millions of Americans continue to be systematically denied their constitutional right to vote.  Every citizen deserves to have his or her vote counted.
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( published in: African-American Issues | Civil Rights | Disability Rights | Election Reform | Latino Issues | Media Center | Statements )

7/19/06: Dodd Urges Full Funding for Election Reform Legislation

July 18, 2006

Washington – Senator Chris Dodd has urged a key subcommittee within the Senate Appropriations Committee to provide full funding to enable states to implement the reforms mandated in the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), so that all eligible voters across the nation have an equal opportunity to vote and have that vote counted. Senator Dodd is the original co-author of HAVA, legislation enacted in 2002.
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( published in: Election Reform | Media Center | Press Releases and Statements )

3/09/06: Dodd Calls for the Authorization of the Voting Rights Act

March 9, 2006
Senator Chris Dodd gave the opening remarks at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Symposium on the Voting Rights Act. Senator Dodd called on Congress to work to ensure that every eligible voter’s ballot is cast and counted.

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( published in: African-American Issues | Civil Rights | Election Reform | Media Center | Photos and Events | Safeguarding Our Democracy )

2/15/06: Dodd - Lott Legislation to Help Gulf Coast States Hold Timely Elections Passes Senate

February 15, 2006
Washington, D.C. – Senators Chris Dodd and Trent Lott today announced that their legislation to help Gulf Coast states hold timely elections passed the Senate.

“We’ve all seen the devastating affects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and it’s essential that we do everything possible to help families and communities rebuild,” said Dodd. “And part of this rebuilding effort must include conducting fair and timely elections. While it might not be the first thing on the minds of many rebuilding in the Gulf Coast region, elections are the cornerstone of our democracy and must continue through this difficult time. Some elections have already been postponed because the infrastructure has been severely damaged or simply washed away. This funding will help rebuild polling places, replace or repair voting systems, and locate poll workers and voters.”

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( published in: Civil Rights | Election Reform | Media Center | Press Releases and Statements | Safeguarding Our Democracy )

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