"Count Florida's Votes" Says National Organization for Women Political Action Committee (NOW PAC)

April 29, 2008

The National Organization for Women Political Action Committee (NOW PAC) joins our national and Florida allies in calling on the Democratic National Committee (DNC) to count their votes now.

"We live in a nation where our young women and men have been sent to Iraq to fight for democracy, while here at home 1.7 million voters in Florida are disenfranchised," said NOW PAC Chair Kim Gandy. "Where is the fairness in this process? Despite much misinformation in the media, Florida Democrats did not choose to move their primary earlier – the Republican-majority legislature did that, and they did it over the active opposition of the Florida Democratic Party. The Republicans knew exactly what they were doing. They were trying to damage Florida Democrats, trying to strip them of their rightful delegates, and the DNC should not help their scheme succeed."

"It was a cynical maneuver," said Gandy. After the election debacle of 2000, Florida adopted electronic voting machines and Florida Democrats badly wanted to pass legislation requiring a "paper trail" for electronic ballots. So Republicans included the January 29 early primary in that critical election bill, hoping that Democrats would kill the election protection bill, rather than risk losing their delegates.

"Democratic legislators tried to amend the legislation to hold the primary on February 5 instead of January 29, but they were outnumbered by Republicans. It is grossly unfair for the DNC to punish Florida Democrats for the willful actions of Republicans who were intent on causing them harm." said Gandy. "We encourage the DNC Credentials Committee to work with state and party leaders to resolve this matter, count the votes, and get back to the issues that will ensure that the Democrats are back in the White House in January 2009."

Media Advisory

Who:	National Organization for Women Political Action Committee and allies, in solidarity with LULAC, Florida Voters League, Florida Demands Representation, Southern Leadership Coalition and local Florida civil rights leaders.
What:	Demonstration in front of the Democratic National Committee, urging DNC leaders and the DNC Credentials Committee to count the Florida votes.
When:	Wednesday, April 30th at 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Where:	DNC headquarters 430 South Capitol St. SE Washington, DC 20003

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For Immediate Release
Contact: Mai Shiozaki, 202-628-8669, ext. 116; cell 202-641-1906

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