WASHINGTON _ A House task force is within "30 to 45 days" of releasing a report laying out which states with histories of voter suppression should be required to get permission from the federal government before changing local election laws.
The report, nearly a year in the making, is expected to propose that more states with histories of voter suppression should have to submit to "preclearance" beyond the original list of 14 jurisdictions subject to that mandate prior to the Supreme Court striking it down in 2013.
"Not only do the original 14 jurisdictions ... need to stay there, they need to be expanded," said Rep. Marcia Fudge, D-Ohio, who is spearheading the effort as chairwoman of a House elections subcommittee. "I live in Ohio. Ohio should be a part of preclearance. Parts of Pennsylvania should be a part of preclearance. And I could go on and on," she said.
