NEWARK, N.J. — A Republican National Committee official calculated that a so-called ballot security program in Louisiana “could keep the black vote down considerably,” according to documents released in federal court Friday.
The documents and court hearing were the latest developments in a controversy over the GOP’s ballot program that Democrats maintain is aimed at reducing minority turnout. The Republicans say the program’s sole purpose is to purge ineligible voters from voting roles.
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In an Aug. 13 memo the court made public Friday, Kris Wolfe, the Republican National Committee Midwest political director, wrote Lanny Griffith, the committee’s Southern political director, and said of the Louisiana campaigning:
“I know this race is really important to you. I would guess that this program will eliminate at least 60-80,000 folks from the rolls. . . . If it’s a close race . . . which I’m assuming it is, this could keep the black vote down considerably.”
Unseals Document
She said in the memorandum that the program had been approved by Gregory Graves, deputy political director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.