COMMUNITY UPDATE

July 2008

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ASIAN AMERICAN VOTING RIGHTS TRAININGS

AALDEF attorneys train 250 Asian American community leaders and
organizations in 7 states

on voter registration, voters' rights on Election Day, and proper voter
ID requirements



Throughout the summer, the Asian American Legal Defense and Education
Fund (AALDEF), a 34-year old national civil rights organization, has
provided free legal trainings in multiple cities to assist Asian
American community-based organizations in conducting voter registration
drives and to prepare for the fall Presidential Elections.



To date, AALDEF has trained over 250 Asian American community leaders
and organizations in Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York,
Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington, DC. Attorneys provided legal
information under local, state, and federal laws about:

(1) legal responsibilities in conducting voter registration;

(2) voters' rights on Election Day regarding interpreters, provisional
ballots, identification requirements, and remedies to problems; and

(3) legal rules regarding electoral and voter education activities for
tax-exempt nonprofit organizations.



In particular, the trainings dispelled many misunderstandings about
current voter identification requirements. The US Supreme Court's
decision in Crawford v. Marion County Election Board and Indiana
Democratic Party v. Rokita, which upheld an Indiana law requiring voters
to show government-issued photo identification, have confused voters
about the proper requirements in their states. AALDEF had filed an
amicus ("friend of the court") brief in the case detailing how such laws
have been misapplied or only applied to Asian American voters.



Glenn D. Magpantay, AALDEF Staff Attorney, said, "We will monitor the
elections in November to ensure that voter ID requirements do not
disenfranchise Asian Americans."



Training sessions took place in the following locations: Boston, MA; New
York, NY; Newark, NJ; Philadelphia, PA; and Washington, DC.



AALDEF acknowledges the following cosponsors of the trainings: APIA
Vote, Asian Community Development Corporation of Boston, Asian Outreach
Unit of Greater Boston Legal Services, Asian Pacific American Agenda
Coalition (MA), Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center (DC),
Chinese Progressive Association (MA), Coalition of Asian Pacific
American of Virginia, Duane Morris LLP, Mass VOTE, National Asian
American Association of Professionals - DC Chapter, National Asian
Pacific American Women's Forum, National Korean American Service &
Education Consortium, Organization of Chinese Americans, Organization of
Chinese Americans - Greater Washington DC Chapter, Organization of
Chinese Americans - Northern Virginia Chapter, Orrick, Herrington &
Sutcliffe LLP, South Asian Americans Leading Together, University of
Maryland at College Park Asian American Studies Program, Weil, Gotshal &
Manges LLP.



To request a training, or to volunteer in AALDEF's poll monitoring
efforts in November, contact Bryan Lee, AALDEF Voting Rights
Coordinator, at 212.966.5932 or blee@....



###





The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), founded in
1974, is a national organization that


protects and promotes the civil rights of Asian Americans. By combining
litigation, advocacy, education, and organizing, AALDEF works with Asian
American communities across the country to secure human rights for all.




-----------



Glenn D. Magpantay, Esq.
gmagpantay@...



************************************************************
ASIAN AMERICAN LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATION FUND
99 Hudson Street, 12/F New York, NY 10013-2815
Defending the civil rights of Asian Americans since 1974
t: 212.966.5932 f: 212.966.4303 website: www.aaldef.org
<file:///\\www.aaldef.org\>
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