Speech #1090161221

Of the 1.100 objections issued by the Department of Justice since 1965. 56 percent occurred since the last reauthorization in 1982. Over half have occurred since 1982. So despite the progress these States have made in upholding the right to vote. it is clear that problems still exist. There are others who have argued we should not renew section 203s protection of language minorities. These arguments have been tied to debates over immigration and they tend to muddle a noncontroversial issueprotecting the right to votewith one of todays most contentious debates. But lets remember. you cannot request language assistance if you are not a voter. You cannot be a voter if you are not a citizen.