N V R I | National Voting Rights Institute

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NVRI CELEBRATES TWO MAJOR VICTORIES!
A WEALTH BARRIER FALLS IN PENNSYLVANIA!

In a major victory for non-wealthy candidates and voters, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit ruled on September 11, 2003, that Pennsylvania may not impose a candidate filing fee on those who are unable to pay. By failing to provide an alternative means of ballot access, �the Commonwealth has made economic status a decisive factor in determining ballot access,� the Court declared. �It therefore has run afoul of the Supreme Court�s ballot access jurisprudence.�
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ALASKA'S SOFT MONEY BAN UPHELD!

In a ruling that could influence the Supreme Court�s upcoming review of the new federal soft money restrictions, a federal appeals court held on August 12, 2003, that Alaska�s ban on soft money contributions to political parties is constitutional. The 3-0 ruling, issued by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, overturned a federal district court�s decision striking down the ban on First Amendment grounds.
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	NVRI News Flash ::


	Case Updates Arguments Heard in Albuquerque On July 10, 2003, NVRI attorneys Brenda Wright and Lisa Danetz presented argument to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit, sitting in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in two appeals addressing the constitutionality of Albuquerque�s mandatory campaign spending limits. more>> Arguments Made in Aguirre et al. v. Phillips Readers of this newsletter know that NVRI represents plaintiffs seeking an end to the Texas Supreme Court�s practice of taking secret votes on which cases to accept for review. more>>


	A Message From NVRI Founder ::


	Dear Friends, Since our founding, the National Voting Rights Institute has challenged the myth that economic discrimination in the political process is consistent with the United States Constitution and with the basic ideals of our democracy. As we have often emphasized, the United States Supreme Court invalidated such discrimination when it struck down the poll tax barrier in the Court�s landmark 1966 ruling, Harper v. Virginia Board of Elections. more>>

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Phone: (617) 624-3900 ¤ Fax: (617) 624-3911 ¤ www.nvri.org ¤ [email protected]


	:: NVRI UPDATE :: The Newsletter of the National Voting Rights Institute

	IN THIS ISSUE :: Wealth Barrier Falls in Pennsylvania! Alaska's Soft Money Ban Upheld! A Message From NVRI Founder & Executive Director, John Bonifaz Staff News Case Updates Alliance for Democracy v. FEC NVRI Challenges Hard Money Increases A Tribute to Arthur Kinoy - "The People's Lawyer" Third Party Candidates Unite in Complaint Against the Commission on Presidential Debates Essential Partners