Haitian-American Grassroots Coalition appeal to Supervisors Of Elections & Secretary Browning: End “No Match” Law Now
MIAMI – The Haitian-American Grassroots Coalition and voting rights advocates are expressing concerns about incidents occurring at the North Miami Library which border on voter suppression.
“We are deeply concerned about the impact of the current Florida ‘no match’ law on the Haitian Community and other ethnic language minorities,” said Jean Lafortune, Director of the Haitian-American Grassroots Coalition. “The no match law will suppress the voting rights of certain minorities, and is a violation of the Equal Protection clause, the Help America Vote Act, and the Voting Rights Act of 1964.”
Haitian Americans are a vulnerable community that has been subject to voter suppression in the previous two presidential elections (2004 and 2000). The Haitian-American Grassroots Coalition urges Governor Crist and Secretary of State Browning to side with the recent legal opinion of Ron Labasky, Counsel to the Florida State Association of Supervisors of Elections.
As Mr. Labasky pointed out in his October 21, 2008 memorandum to the Association, no match issues can be resolved at early vote and on Election Day, without voters having to take an extra step to return to the Supervisor of Election’s office or having to fax, mail, or email the requested identification.
“The Haitian Community is deeply concerned that the Florida Department of State failed to apply for the $6 million in available HAVA funds, which could have been used to promote community education, and to allocate polling place resources equitably, in vulnerable communities,” said Lafortune.
