Protecting IN & NC Primary Polls. Turning Away Nuns.

May 6 – As of this afternoon, Election Protection has received nearly 400 calls to their nonpartisan voter protection hotline from Indiana and North Carolina. Sadly, in perhaps the most ironic and unfortunate example of disenfranchisement caused by Indiania's burdensome voter ID law to date, one report from South Bend told of nuns working the polls keeping fellow nuns from the voting booths because they lacked the proper indentification. More on the legal challenge to Indiana's onerous voter ID law is available on the Crawford v. Marion County Election Board case page. Other incidents from North Carolina and Indiana polling locations can be found here. Voters in both states can call 866-OUR-VOTE toll-free until 8p.m. EST with any questions or issues that arise in polling locations.

 

Government Destroyed Tapes; Admits to Holding More

May 2 – Yesterday the U.S. government admitted, for the first time, that officials destroyed interrogation tapes of Ali Almarri, the only alleged "enemy combatant" still detained on U. S. soil, and in Court papers filed today made it clear that the DIA still has videotapes of nine interrogation sessions. "The possibility that the government still has—and is with-holding—videotapes that document interrogation procedures is mind-boggling, and offends those who respect due process and the rule of law," said Jonathan Hafetz, Brennan Center attorney and lead counsel for Mr. Almarri. Beyond the courtroom, the videos in question could have a bigger impact: as is well known, photos from Abu Ghraib played a big part in galvanizing international censure against the tactics this country deploys against terror.