FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          CR
MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 1996                           (202) 616-2765
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888

                                 
SUPREME COURT REJECTS CALIFORNIA'S CHALLENGE TO "MOTOR VOTER" LAW

     Statement by Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights
      Deval L. Patrick


     WASHINGTON, D.C. --  The Supreme Court today rejected a bid by
California to overturn a 9th Circuit decision upholding the
constitutionality of the National Voter Registration Act, or the
"motor-voter" law.
     Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Deval L. Patrick
issued the following statement:
     "Every court that has ruled on the motor voter law has agreed
that it is constitutional.  Today California is at the end of the
line in challenging the law.

     "The motor voter law is not only constitutional, it is just
good common sense.

     "Motor-voter makes it easier for all Americans to register to
vote.  Already it is producing tremendous results across the
country for millions of Americans.

     "We hope that the few remaining states that are completing
efforts to comply with the law will do so promptly.  They owe it to
their citizens."

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