Cardin co-sponsoring voter suppression bill

Posted: 8:28 am Wed, December 14, 2011
By Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Sen. Ben Cardin says he plans to introduce a bill creating new criminal and civil penalties for voter suppression.

The Maryland Democrat says he plans to introduce the bill Wednesday along with New York Sen. Charles Schumer.

Cardin says the bill respects the free speech protections of the First Amendment and applies only to certain types of false information during the last 90 days of an election. That includes listing the wrong date or time for an election, inaccurate information about voter eligibility or promoting false endorsements.

Cardin spokeswoman Sue Walitsky says the bill was originally proposed before voter suppression charges were brought against an aide to former Republican Gov. Robert Ehrlich. Former aide Paul Schurick was recently convicted in that case.