- Title: UN rights chief calls for 'non-discriminatory' US election
- Date: 4th March 2024
- Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (FILE - AUGUST 28, 2021) (REUTERS) MARCHERS WALKING BY LAFAYETTE PARK AND THE WHITE HOUSE MARCHERS CHANTING "THEY CAN'T STOP THE REVOLUTION" AS THEY CARRY SIGNS MAN HOLDING SIGN READING (English): “LET THE PEOPLE VOTE, STOP VOTER SUPPRESSION” MARCHERS CARRYING SIGNS READING (English): “THE TIME TO FIGHT LIKE HELL FOR DEMOCRACY IS RIGHT NOW”
- Embargoed: 18th March 2024 12:36
- Keywords: High Commissioner USA United Nations Volker Turk human rights presidential election restricting voting legislation right to vote
- Location: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES / GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
- City: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES / GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
- Country: US
- Topics: North America,Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA006521404032024RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The United Nations human rights chief on Monday (March 4) called on the United States to ensure that this year's presidential election was non-discriminatory.
"In the United States of America, in this electoral year, it is particularly important for authorities at all levels to implement recent recommendations by the UN Human Rights Committee to ensure that suffrage is non-discriminatory, equal and universal," Volker Turk, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, told the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva.
In a series of recommendations issued last year, the UN Human Rights Committee voiced concern at an "increase in the number of legislative initiatives and practices at the state level that limit the exercise of the right to vote."
It said these included partisan gerrymandering, restrictions on voting by mail, on ballot collection and burdensome voter identification requirements.
During his speech in front of the human rights council, Turk referred to data from New York University's nonpartisan Brennan Center for Justice according to which at least 14 states had passed laws last year that enacted restricting voting legislation.
Former President Donald Trump is the frontrunner to be the Republican presidential nominee in the 2024 election, which will take place on Nov. 5.
President Joe Biden faces little opposition in the Democratic Party in his campaign for a second four-year term.
(Production: Cecile Mantovani) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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