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Klobuchar, Ellison Demand Action On Voting Rights

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Two Minnesota lawmakers called on citizens to demand action on voting rights.

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar and U.S. Representative Keith Ellison spoke about protecting voting rights at the Minneapolis Urban League Monday morning.

"This is going on right now, right here, where people are trying to make it harder to vote instead of easier to vote," Klobuchar said.

Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down part of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

Supporters had said that piece was necessary to fight discrimination, but the court decided times have changed and Congress needed a new formula to figure out which states still needed oversight before changing voting laws.

"I think that this is an awesome challenge given the present political reality, but because Section 4 voting rights has been bipartisan, there is hope. But we need citizen activism," Ellison said.

Both Democrats also said they'd like to see same-day registration for voters in every state.

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