Republican Attack on ACORN ??? a Ploy to Intimidate Voters

“Americans know that voting is the language of democracy.  If you don’t vote, you don’t count, which is why the civil rights community has long advocated the right to vote as one of the most important rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.  We applaud the efforts of non-profit organizations that have played an active role in promoting voter participation and strengthening American democracy.

Recently, a number of Republican leaders have singled out one organization for special criticism.  The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) has come under attack for having solicited and reported the registration of 1.3 million new voters from around the country. 

It’s important to note that in most of the states in which ACORN operates, there is a requirement that all voter registration cards be reviewed and corroborated by the Office of the Secretary of State. ACORN flags incomplete, problematic, or suspicious registration cards when they turn them in.  Unfortunately, it appears that some of these same officials came back weeks or months later to accuse ACORN of deliberately turning in false or misleading voter registration cards. 

In many instances, ACORN can actually prove that these are the same cards that they themselves brought to the attention of election officials.  We believe that these attacks are part of a concerted effort to both discredit the registration of many new voters who may well determine the outcome of the presidential election and state elections, and to discredit ACORN, an organization that plays a particularly important role in defending low-income families and communities of color.

The attack on ACORN is a distraction from the democratic process and an effort to intimidate voters.  We at the Leadership Conference recognize this attack for what it is, we deplore it, and we believe that all Americans who support democracy will reject these accusations.”