BOSTON (AP) - Massachusetts citizen and community groups who say they were
denied voter registration opportunities through public assistance offices are
suing the state.
The suit was filed in federal court Tuesday by a regional office of the
NAACP, the group New England United for Justice and Bethzaida Delgado, a
Massachusetts woman who said she was repeatedly denied voter registration
services.
The suit alleges that Secretary of State William Galvin's office and the
state Department of Transitional Assistance violated the National Voter
Registration Act of 1993 by failing to offer registration opportunities to the
poor.
Under the act, state governments are required to allow voter registration for
eligible individuals when they renew their licenses or apply for social
services.
In their complaint, plaintiffs cited a DTA internal report suggesting about
94 percent of public assistance clients did not receive the services. They also
said a majority of individuals receiving public assistance who were interviewed
in preparation for the lawsuit said they were not offered opportunities to
register to vote.
Alec Loftus, a state Health and Human Services spokesman, said in a statement
that the agency is in the process of reviewing the complaint.
"Voting is one of the most important civic duties, and helping people comply
is one of our top priorities," he said.
A spokesman for Galvin said the office does not comment on ongoing cases.
