Vanderbilt Television News Archive

(Studio: Connie Chung) Intro. of bill to reform voter registration laws reported Report introduced.

(DC: Ken Bode) Reasons for people's failure to vote reported [Senator Alan CRANSTON -says democracy threatened by failure to vote.] Issue of vote fraud if bill sponsored by Cranston and Representative John Conyers is passed discussed. [CRANSTON - discusses fraud issue.] Registration right at polls in Minnesota, North Dakota and WI noted. [Pollster Richard SMOLKA - says that system is no registration at all; that these states don't have tradition of vote fraud.] Fraud cases over last 5 years outlined. Justice Department official Craig Donsanto quoted with regard to fraud investigation. Criticism of same-day voter registration noted with Chicago, Illinois, used as example [Bd. of elecs. chairperson Mike LAVELLE - says it would increase problems in Chicago vote fraud.] Methods of voter fraud discussed; details given, scenes shown. Waterbury, Connecticut, editorial cartoons shown. [LAVELLE - discusses fraud generated by postcard registration.]