Von Spakovsky Nomination Blocked by Senate

by Jonah Goldman

Great news, controversial FEC nominee, Hans von Spakovsky, had his nomination blocked by the U.S. Senate last week.  Von Spakovsky’s recess appointment is set to expire at the end of the year and, with the Senate on recess until the New Year, there appears to be no chance he will gain confirmation to a full term on this nomination. 

Barbara Arnwine, Executive Director of the Lawyers’ Committee said in response to the news:

Under Hans von Spakovsky’s tenure at the Justice Department, the key federal agency charged with protecting the right to vote was used to promote voter suppression and influence the rules of the game on Election Day.   Von Spakovsky was at the center of a concerted effort to create the perception of widespread voter fraud to justify new policies that would disenfranchise low-income and minority citizens as well as students and seniors.

The withdrawal of Mr. von Spakovsky’s nomination will hopefully spur Congress to not only insist that President Bush nominate a new commissioner to the Federal Election Commission who respects the right to vote, but to also make progress on sorely needed legislation to protect the right of every eligible citizen to vote while maintaining the integrity of the electoral process.

The National Campaign for Fair Elections would like to thank Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid as well as Senators Sherrod Brown, Russ Feingold, John Kerry and Barack Obama for their leadership in blocking von Spakovsky’s nomination.  We’d also like to thank all of our supporters who sent petitions, wrote letters to the editor, and called their Senators.