U.S. Commission on Civil Rights

2004 NEWS RELEASES, PRESS ADVISORIES AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS

U.S. COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS INVESTIGATES SUPPRESSION OF YOUTH VOTE, BARRIERS TO REGISTERING & IMPACT OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT

Friday October 8, 11:00 AM
Commission Headquarters
624 9th Street, N.W.
Room 540
Washington, DC

Washington, DC - In a continuing probe of potential barriers and challenges confronting voters in November, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights will convene the fourth briefing in a series titled, "Voting and Election Reform - Is America Ready to Vote?"

Panelists will address the Commission on barriers to voting among the nation's young people and obstacles that prevent youth from fully participating in the democratic process. The Commission will hear from experts and advocates on youth voting issues who will speak to widespread reports of suppression of young potential voters. Specifically, the panelists will report on allegations that the historically black university Prairie View A&M in Texas was threatened with prosecution if students who were not permanent residents of the county were permitted to vote. Legally, college students are permitted to vote where they attend school.

WHO:	U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, an independent, bipartisan agency charged with monitoring and protecting voting rights
WHAT:	Briefing on Suppression of the Youth Vote, Impact of Voting Rights Act
WHEN:	Friday October 8, 2004 at 11:00 AM
WHERE:	Commission Headquarters 624 9th Street, N.W. Room 540 Washington, DC

(List of panelists attached)

USCCR BRIEFING ON VOTING AND ELECTION REFORM - IS AMERICA READY TO VOTE?
Suppression of Youth Vote, Barriers to Registering & Voting Rights Act

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2004 AT 11:00 AM

TED SHAW, DIRECTOR-COUNSEL AND PRESIDENT, NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND, INC. (LDF)
JEHMU GREENE, PRESIDENT, ROCK THE VOTE FOUNDATION
JANELLE HU, NATIONAL DIRECTOR, THE ASIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER AMERICAN VOTE (APIA VOTE) 2004
NIGEL REDMOND, STUDENT BODY GOVERNMENT PRESIDENT, SENIOR, MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS MAJOR, PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY, PRAIRIE VIEW, TEXAS
SABRINA HODGE, PRESIDENT OF CAMPUS NAACP, SENIOR, MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS MAJOR, PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY, PRAIRIE VIEW, TEXAS

For more information about the October 8 briefing, please contact Laura Hart at 202.833.9771.

10/06/04