FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:

Logan Churchwell
media@truethevote.org

TRUE THE VOTE FILES SUIT AGAINST MISSISSIPPI, STATE
REPUBLICAN PARTY

REQUESTS I MMEDI ATE ACCESS TO ELECTI ON RECORDS AHEAD OF
CERTI FICATI ON DEADLI NE

OXFORD, MS. -- July 1, 2014: True the Vote (TTV), the nation's leading voters rights and
election integrity organization, today filed suit in federal court against the Mississippi Secretary
of State and the State Republican Party, asking the Court to immediately order that election
records be shared to inspect for illegal votes ahead of certification for the June 24 U.S. Senate
Primary Runoff Election (True the Vote, et. al v. State of Mississippi, et. al. (3:14cv144-MPM-
SAA)).
True the Vote and associated plaintiffs argue that the defendants failed to properly abide by
federal election record maintenance and open records provisions codified in the National Voter
Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA). Records made partially available to the plaintiffs indicated
double-voting from Democratic to Republican primaries -- potentially diluting votes in
violation of the Equal Protection Clause.
"All we are asking is that the MS State Republican Party follow the law; allow their designated
county representatives to inspect the poll books and ballots, give them the review time they are
permitted by law, and allow them to uphold their responsibility to MS voters," True the Vote
President Catherine Engelbrecht said. "True the Vote has been inundated with reports from
voters across Mississippi who are outraged to see the integrity of this election being undermined
so that politicos can get back to business as usual. Enough is enough.

This isn't about personality, party, or politics. Senators come and go, Engelbrecht continued.
What must withstand the test of time is the integrity of the process by which we elect our
representatives and establish our government. No candidate or party should ever be allowed to
twist election laws or subvert voters rights in the interest of political ambition.

True the Vote has closely followed developments surrounding the Mississippi Republican
Primary Runoff from the beginning. On June 21, TTV released figures demonstrating unusual
voter turnout patterns based on historic data. On June 25, the organization formally
requested that MS Republican Party Chairman Joe Nosef delay certification of the election and
share voting records for independent review. Finding no assistance from the state party, TTV and
the collected 13 plaintiffs were left no option but to pursue the matter in federal court.


True the Votes lawsuit consists of three counts:

Count One: Violation of NVRAs Public Disclosure Provision. Shortly before the
Republican Primary Runoff Election, True the Vote, via its volunteer base, made a valid
and timely request to review voter rolls and poll books under the NVRA, but it was
denied access to those records.

Count Two: Individual Plaintiffs Allege a Violation of NVRA Based on Conflict with
State Laws. Plaintiffs seek a declaration that the NVRA preempts any state requirement
calling for public election information to be redacted at the cost of the requestor.

Count Three: Individual Plaintiffs Allege an Equal Protection Violation. Discovering
potential instances of double-voting between Democratic and Republican primaries are
unlawful dilutions of individual votes.
True the Vote engaged legal representation with the firm of Beirne, Maynard & Parsons L.L.P.
TTVs complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of
Mississippi, Oxford Division.
A copy of the complaint has been made available here.


True the Vote (TTV) is an IRS-designated 501(c)(3) voters rights organization, founded to inspire and
equip volunteers for involvement at every stage of our electoral process. TTV empowers organizations
and individuals across the nation to actively protect the rights of legitimate voters, regardless of their
political party affiliation. For more information, please visit www.truethevote.org.

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