WASHINGTON, Oct. 6 (UPI) -- In a letter to NBC Chairman Robert Wright Wednesday, senior House Democrats asked the network to undertake a public awareness campaign about voters' rights.
"We can expect to see subtle and not-so-subtle efforts of sinister political operatives to discourage and intimidate voters in key precincts around the nation," the letter said. "The fact that such efforts are not only profoundly undemocratic but also illegal in every state has not deterred some people, acting alone or on behalf of others, from engaging in them to distort election outcomes."
The network, the members of Congress urged, should carry out its federal public service obligations "by producing and broadcasting a public service campaign describing what actions voters can take if they suspect their voting rights are being violated between now and Election Day."
The letter was signed by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.; House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md.; House Democratic Caucus Chairman Robert Menendez, D-N.J.; Caucus Vice-Chairman James Clyburn, D-S.C.; Rep. John Larson, D-Conn., the ranking Democrat on the House Administration Committee; and Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., the ranking Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
