FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CR TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1995 (202) 616-2765 TDD (202) 514-1888 STATEMENT BY ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR CIVIL RIGHTS ON RULING IN SOUTH CAROLINA UPHOLDING THE "MOTOR-VOTER" LAW WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A U.S. District Court in Columbia, South Carolina yesterday sided with six other federal courts by upholding the National Voter Registration Act, also known as the "motor-voter" law. Every court that has considered the issue has agreed. Rejecting the state's arguments, the court ordered the state to begin implementing the law that simplifies voter registration. Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Deval L. Patrick issued the following statement: "We are extremely pleased that the District Court has affirmed the constitutionality of the National Voter Registration Act. Every court that has decided the issue so far has agreed. "This decision echoes earlier rulings. Once again, we have seen that Congress was well within its authority to pass a law making it easier for all Americans to register to vote. The decision also demonstrates that the state had no legal basis for failing to comply with such a common sense law. "It is now time for the state to implement the law that will simplify voter registration for all South Carolinians. "Motor-voter makes sense. Already the law is producing tremendous results across the country. Millions of Americans already are benefiting from the law -- now South Carolinians can, as well." U.S. District Courts in Philadelphia, Chicago, and San Jose, California and Richmond, Virginia as well as the Courts of Appeals for the 7th and 9th Circuits also have upheld the law. # # # 95-586