The Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE) recently announced it will be sending 500 observers to monitor the 2016 election. The announcement garnered praise from Wade Henderson, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and The Leadership Conference Education Fund. Henderson also took the opportunity to call on the Supreme Court of the United States on its 2013 decision to invalidate a section of the Voting Rights Act:
“The need for additional election observers is paramount. The unprecedented weakening of the Voting Rights Act has led to a tidal wave of voter discrimination efforts nationwide and has required the United States to drastically scale back its own election monitoring program. Donald Trump has made the demonization of racial, ethnic, and religious minorities a hallmark of his campaign and continues to urge his supporters to challenge voters at polling sites.
“Congress needs to restore the VRA immediately. Additional monitors can never replace what we lost when the VRA was gutted but we have to use every possible means to ensure the integrity of this election isn’t compromised by racial discrimination and intimidation.”
