March 5, 2008

Panel discussion focuses on voters' rights, voter security

Freedom to Vote: Protecting the Ballot is 7-9 p.m. at the Unitarian-Universalist Church on Meridian Street, in West Lafayette. The event is sponsored by the Purdue Liberal Arts Community Engagement program, which is known as PLACE, the Unitarian-Universalist Church and the American Civil Liberties Union in Indiana.

"It's an election year, so it is important for Americans to be self-aware and protective of their rights as citizens and the information that will be presented at this panel will help people as they participate in the political process," said Susan Curtis, associate dean of interdisciplinary programs and engagement. "Some of the topics that will be discussed include how technological changes are affecting voter security, the history of elections in the United States, civil liberties, the voting process and Indiana's legislative decision to change the required identification for voting in Indiana."

The program will feature a video that highlights issues related to voters' rights and voter security in an age of voter ID laws and electronic voting machines.

The panel discussion will feature Gene Spafford, professor of computer science; Joe Micon (D-West Lafayette), Indiana State representative; Yvonne Pitts, an assistant professor of history; Will McLauchlan, associate professor of political science; and Julia Vaughn, policy director and lobbyist with Common Cause/Indiana. Common Cause is a nonprofit organization that focuses on promoting citizens' voices in the political process.

The Purdue Liberal Arts Community Engagement program started in January 2007 and is aimed at increasing its faculty's community engagement, as well as examining and solving social issues that affect citizens throughout the state.

Writer: Amy Patterson Neubert, (765) 494-9723, apatterson@purdue.edu

Sources: Susan Curtis, (765) 494-4159, curtis@purdue.edu 

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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