How would you describe the other camp?

Bradley A. Smith
Professor of Law
Capital University Law School
Columbus, Ohio

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-election-law_gl@majordomo.lls.edu
[mailto:owner-election-law_gl@majordomo.lls.edu] On Behalf Of RuthAlice
Anderson
Sent: Monday, April 03, 2006 5:04 PM
To: election-law@majordomo.lls.edu
Subject: Chapin Article on AZ - EAC conflict

I appreciate the clear explanation of the importance of this 
disagreement between state and local government and the implications 
for all of us. However, I must object to Chapin's description between 
the competing camps on voter registration. In his words, this dispute 
"would once again shift the balance of power between those seeking 
greater access to voters and those seeking to enhance the integrity 
of the election process."

I don't know where Chapin got the idea that making it easier for 
people to register to vote demeans the integrity of the process. In 
fact, the opposite is true. Seeking to make sure every single 
eligible voter has a chance to vote enhances the integrity of the 
election process. In my opinion, imposing impediments to voting that 
maintains the marginalization of the poor and people of color 
diminishes the integrity of our elections and our government.

I certainly hope Chapin merely "misspoke" and that he doesn't really 
believe that removing institutional barriers to voting is a bad thing.

RuthAlice




RuthAlice Anderson
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