#DeniedMyVote

We've all been watching aghast as Donald Trump tries to stop officials in the key battle-ground states from counting the votes now that the election has taken place. 

But let's also remember the lengths the Trump administration and some Republican governors went to before the ballot to interfere with the administration of the election and deny people a vote, including:

* Installing a Trump donor, Louis Dejoy as head of the US postal service!

* Limiting drop boxes where voters can deposit their vote to one per county (in some states)

* Requiring postal voters to have their signatures witnessed (in some states)

* Insisting additional envelopes be used to mail ballots (in some states)

* Attempting to change the deadline for the admissibility of postal votes (in some states)

* Restricting the voting rights of former felons (eg in Florida)

Much of this sounds eerily familiar from last year's elections to the European Parliament in the UK when over 1.7m EU citizens and Britons abroad were denied their vote handing Nigel Farage's Brexit Party several extra seats.

* Sending postal votes out too late for them to be able to be returned in time by British voters abroad

* Insisting on an additional form for EU citizens in the UK to complete 

* Failing to take steps to inform EU citizens in time of the administrative requirements

* Ignoring warnings about mass disenfranchisement civil rights groups like New Europeans and MPs

At New Europeans we continue to campaign for a full investigation onto what happened in the European elections in the UK in 2019 by means of a public inquiry. 

It's also particularly important to step up our campaign at this time as the Government prepares to defend an important legal case brought against them for failing to prepare adequately for the elections (the case will be heard in December).

Whatever the outcome of the private court case, it is vital that we keep up the pressure on the government. Events in America are bringing the issue of voter suppression back under the spotlight.

Thank you for all your support which has allowed us to continue to fight for justice for all those who were denied their vote.

In doing so, we continue to draw attention to the issue of voter suppression (vote denied) wherever this takes place.

Have we seen the back of voter suppression in the UK?

Not if the Government's response to #DeniedMyVote is anything to go by.

The scenes we are witnessing in the United States (and in Belarus) are a stark reminder that there is nothing more important than our vote.

Lose our vote, and we lose our voice. Just when we really need it.

We have raised our fund-raising target to £20,000 to continue the campaign.

If you can chip in a further £5, £10, £25 or more it will help make all the difference.

Thank you very much for all your support - we will keep you up-dated about developments.

ROGER CASALE
CEO& Secretary General, New Europeans