FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          CR
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1995                         (202) 616-2765
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888

     STATEMENT BY ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR CIVIL RIGHTS
     ON RULING IN SOUTH CAROLINA UPHOLDING THE "MOTOR-VOTER" LAW

     WASHINGTON, D.C. --  A U.S. District Court in Columbia,
South Carolina yesterday sided with six other federal courts by
upholding the National Voter Registration Act, also known as the
"motor-voter" law.  Every court that has considered the issue has
agreed.  Rejecting the state's arguments, the court ordered the
state to begin implementing the law that simplifies voter
registration.
     Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Deval L. Patrick
issued the following statement:
     "We are extremely pleased that the District Court has
affirmed the constitutionality of the National Voter Registration
Act.  Every court that has decided the issue so far has agreed. 
 
     "This decision echoes earlier rulings.  Once again, we have
seen that Congress was well within its authority to pass a law
making it easier for all Americans to register to vote.  The
decision also demonstrates that the state had no legal basis for
failing to comply with such a common sense law.  

     "It is now time for the state to implement the law that will
simplify voter registration for all South Carolinians.

     "Motor-voter makes sense.  Already the law is producing
tremendous results across the country.  Millions of Americans
already are benefiting from the law -- now South Carolinians can,
as well."


     U.S. District Courts in Philadelphia, Chicago, and San Jose,
California and Richmond, Virginia as well as the Courts of
Appeals for the 7th and 9th Circuits also have upheld the law.
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95-586