Lawyers’ Committee Sends Letter to Chairman Richie Addressing Irregularities in Texas Primary

by Ami Sanchez

The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law recently issued a letter to Texas Democratic Party Chairman Boyd Richie, expressing deep concerns over the problems and difficulties voters in Texas faced during the recent primary and Presidential nominating process on March 4, 2008.  The state Democratic Party employs a complicated dual primary election-caucus system to apportion delegates to Democratic Presidential candidates.  Throughout March 4th, the Lawyers’ Committee, along with other members of the Election Protection coalition, worked together to run the national Election Protection Hotline (1-866-OUR-VOTE), and received numerous calls from Texans on Election Day.  Over fifty percent of which came after the polls had closed and nearly a third of those calls came from voters reporting problems, confusion, and concerns about the caucus system.  In addition to highlighting the problems with the misadministration and confusion regarding the administration of their complicated dual election-caucus system, the letter also urged the Chairman to amend Party rules to employ a less complicated and burdensome process.

Click here to read the letter.