Speech #1100065658

Many do not realize that voter suppression still occurs today. The targets o1 intimidation remain the same. This last election. minority and naturalized immigrant communities were the targets of deception. misinformation and voter intimidation designed to abridge their right to vote. In the district I represent. Californias 47th. concerns were raised when about 14.000 registered Hispanic voters received a written letter. in Spanish. from the California Coalition for Immigration Reform" informing voters that immigrants voting in a federal election were committing a crime "that could result in incarceration and possible deportation. .. It also went on to advise voters that "the U.S. government is installing a new computerized system to verify names of all the newly registered voters who participate in the elections in October and November. Organizations against immigration will be able to request information from this new computerized system." The intent of the letter was to intimidate. Families were afraid that their personal information would be shared with antiim migration groups if they voted. They were afraid of retaliation for exercising their right to vote.