SAMPLE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS FOR SPENCER OVERTON
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Spencer Overton is the author of the new book STEALING DEMOCRACY: THE NEW POLITICS OF VOTER SUPPRESSION. Spencer is a law professor at The George Washington University Law School, where he specializes in voting rights. He also served on the Jimmy Carter-James Baker Commission on Federal Election Reform, which was co-chaired by former President Jimmy Carter and former Secretary of State James Baker. Spencer issued a blistering dissent from the Commission's report, arguing that one of the reforms was much more likely to harm democracy than help it. Spencer is also a member of the boards of Common Cause, Demos, and the Center for Responsive Politics. More information on the book and on Spencer is available online at stealingdemocracy.com.

Spencer, welcome to the show.

1. What is STEALING DEMOCRACY about?

2. STEALING DEMOCRACY starts off with an analogy to the movie "The Matrix" starring Keanu Reeves and Laurence Fishburne. What's the relationship between the movie "The Matrix" and the American political system?

3. Chapter 1 of STEALING DEMOCRACY talks about how politicians draw their own election districts. The U.S. Supreme Court recently upheld partisan gerrymandering in Texas. What is "gerrymandering," and what's wrong with it?

4. You discuss the 2004 presidential election in Ohio. What were some of the problems in Ohio? Do you believe those who claim that John Kerry really won Ohio and the 2004 election?

5. Chapter 2 of STEALING DEMOCRACY notes that that there are 4,600 different sets of election rules in the United States. What's wrong with this system?

6. You oppose taking voting rights away from all former felons for life even after they have served their time. Three states - Florida, Kentucky, and Virginia - do just that. What's wrong with preventing someone who has committed a felony from voting for life?

7. Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, which requires that local and state election officials get "preclearance" from the federal government when they change election laws, will expire in 2007 unless it is renewed by Congress. What is Section 5? Why is Section 5 still needed?

8. Chapter 5 of STEALING DEMOCRACY deals with bilingual ballots. What's your response to those who say that bilingual ballots discourage the learning of English, and promote cultural separatism?

9. Are bilingual ballots really needed? To become a naturalized U.S. citizen, don't you need to know how to write and speak English?

10. Chapter 6 of STEALING DEMOCRACY raises questions about a photo ID requirement for voting. When you served on the Jimmy Carter-James Baker Commission, you dissented from the Commission's recommendation for a photo ID requirement to vote. I produce a photo ID to get on an airplane or use my credit card. What's wrong with requiring voters to produce a photo ID to vote?

11. Why should we be concerned about the voting rights of people who commit a crime, who don't speak English well, or who can't produce a photo ID card to vote? If someone really wants to vote, won't they avoid crime, learn English, and get a photo ID?

12. What are the solutions? What reforms are needed to fix our democracy? What can average Americans do to prevent politicians from STEALING DEMOCRACY?

Spencer, thanks for being with us. Again, more information on the new book STEALING DEMOCRACY is available online at stealingdemocracy.com.