The right wing is worried it can’t win elections fair and square. So it has been trying to make it harder for people to vote, especially the poor and minorities. The extreme right-wing private business group “bill mill” ALEC (the American Legislative Exchange Council) has helped write and pass bills in 41 states that would disenfranchise and suppress voters by adding hurdles to the voting process. Here’s just one example of how this creates difficulties for those wanting to exercise their rights:
Here in Philadelphia, there are corporations in our very own backyard that are supporting ALEC and furthering their 1% agenda. Comcast, a major financial player in this city, is a dues-paying member of ALEC and has refused to cut ties with the organization. Over forty corporations have publicly broken with ALEC, so why hasn’t Comcast? Comcast continues to pour money into an organization that supports only right-wing interests instead of putting money back into the people and city that supports them with outrageous cable bills.
Here is why Voter ID is bad for Philadelphia:
- Voter ID disenfranchises disabled, low-income, elderly, people-of-color, and student voters.
- Voter ID would make Philadelphians who have no driver’s license, or who have had it suspended, unable to vote.
- Voter ID will discourage or prevent Philadelphians from exercising their right to vote.
Today, we’re waiting to hear if a judge will strike down Pennsylvania’s discriminatory voter ID law in part or in full.
Comcast needs to know that their relationship with ALEC is bad corporate citizenship and we can longer stand for it. Comcast needs to dump ALEC, now! We can’t let thousands of Philly voters be robbed of their constitutional right to vote.