FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          CR
MONDAY, JULY 24, 1995                              (202) 616-2765
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888


    STATEMENT BY ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR CIVIL RIGHTS
        DEVAL L. PATRICK ON TODAY'S RULING UPHOLDING THE
           CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THE "MOTOR-VOTER" LAW

     WASHINGTON, D.C. --  The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th
Circuit today affirmed a District Court decision upholding the
constitutionality of the National Voter Registration Act, or the
"motor-voter" law.  The court also ordered the Governor of
California to implement 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 Court of Appeals has
affirmed the constitutionality of the National Voter Registration
Act.  Every court that has decided the issue has agreed. 
 
     "It is now time for Governor Wilson to implement the law that
will simplify voter registration for all Californians. 

     "Today's 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 Governor had no legal basis for
failing to comply with such a common sense law.

     "Motor-voter makes sense.  Already the law is producing
tremendous results across the country.  Millions of Americans
already are benefiting from the law -- now millions of
Californian's can, as well. 
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