Roundup: Recent Nonprofit Efforts to Protect Voting Rights
Sep 12, 2006 by Kay Guinane
Updated November 3, 2006. Nonprofits across the country are mobilizing to fight voter suppression efforts. Recently enacted state laws, one proposed regulation and a bill in Congress have united some nonprofits in an effort to curb government sponsored voter discrimination and suppression. Challenges brought by nonprofits have resulted in court victories, and decisions on proposed regulations are pending. These battles are being waged in a pivotal election year, amidst a backdrop of national efforts to curb voting registration, and a recent effort by some members of Congress to limit the reach of the landmark Voting Rights Act Reauthorization. This article provides a roundup of recent decisions and nonprofit efforts.
read in fullNonprofits File Suit Contesting Ohio's New Voter Registration Requirements
Jul 11, 2006 by Guest Blogger
A coalition of organizations and individuals have filed suit to stop new voter registration rules in Ohio, charging they are designed to suppress the registration of minority and economically disadvantaged voters.
read in fullNonprofits Registering Voters Face New Restrictions
Jun 13, 2006 by Guest Blogger
A growing number of nonprofit organizations in states across the country are finding new rules make it difficult or impossible to continue their nonpartisan voter registration efforts. In Florida, the League of Women Voters and a host of other groups have sued the state to stop enforcement of rules that make such voter registration drives substantially more difficult and risky.
read in fullResource Center: New Nonprofit Gag Provision in House GSE Bill
Oct 15, 2005 by Guest Blogger
A Resource Center devoted to information on H.R. 1461, the Federal Housing Finance Reform Act of 2005, a bill originally intended to reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which passed the House on Oct. 27. The bill now contains a provision that would disqualify nonprofits from receiving money from a new affordable housing fund if they have engaged in voter registration and other nonpartisan voter participation activities or lobbying for certain groups within 12 months of applying for the money. They would also be barred from these activities during the grant period, even if non-federal funds were used to pay for it. More specifically, the bill would sweepingly restrict any group that affiliates with an organization that engages in such activities from applying for funds under the affordable housing fund.
read in fullOMB Watch Letter Opposing Church Electioneering Provision in Jobs Bill
Jun 11, 2004 by Kay Guinane
Read the text of OMB Watch's letter to the House Ways and Means Committee, asking them to take out a provision that would allow religious organizations to violate the ban on partisan electioneering for 501(c)(3) organizations up to three times a year.
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