State Rep. Alan Williams (D-Tallahassee) is at The White House today at which President Barack Obama, Attorney General Eric Holder and Labor Secretary Tom Perez are holding talks with civil rights leaders and state and local elected officials, to discuss strengthening the Voting Rights Act and safeguarding every eligible American’s right to vote.
Williams, who serves as chairman of the Florida Legislative Black Caucus, prior to the meeting said, he is “extremely pleased to personally witness President Obama and the Department of Justice taking bold action to protect Americans’ voting rights.”
Williams added that there are “particular concerns about voter rights [in Florida], especially given the efforts of Governor Rick Scott to direct state elections officials to conduct a voter purge. Florida’s actions are worrisome given this state’s egregious history of voter discrimination and suppression.”
“Urgent and careful action is needed to ensure that we have a voting process that is fair and free of discrimination. Congress must enact a new formula for conducting preclearance under the Voting Rights Act to prevent discrimination, and in Florida, it is essential that Governor Scott not renew the voter purge,” he concluded.
