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. # # # 95-254