Letters written to feds about plebiscite

by Sabrina Salas Matanane

Guam - Three members of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights have written President Barack Obama and leadership in the House and Senate Judiciary Committees. Writing the letters in their individual capacities as commission members (Peter Kirsanow, Gail Heriot and Todd Gaziano) are concerned about GovGuam's adoption of voter registration requirements for the plebiscite on the island's future political status that allow only native inhabitants of Guam to be eligible to register and vote.  The three believe the voter registration requirements likely violate the 15th Amendment and Section Two of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The three used as an example the case filed by long time Guam resident Arnold Davis who was denied registration because he does not fall within the definition of native inhabitant of Guam. Kirsanow, Heriot and Gaziano, want an investigation and answers as to what the Department of Justice and Attorney General Eric Holder have done or plan to do to investigate and stop this apparent 15th Amendment violation. The letter states "it is most regrettable that the government of a territory with a multi-racial society and a proud history has stooped to divvying up its residents by race."