"Strong efforts have been made in Ohio to curb the authoritarianism of our Secretary of State, Kenneth Blackwell, as he has purged people from lists in our State in particular precincts where voters are heavily minority"

This quote by Marcy Kaptur is describing the efforts made in Ohio to limit the power of Kenneth Blackwell, the Secretary of State. Blackwell has been accused of purging people from citizen lists in specific precincts, which are greatly populated by minority voters. This has actually been seen as an effort to reduce the minority vote, and has been met strong opposition. Kaptur is likely expressing her assistance for the efforts to limit Blackwell's power, along with her disapproval of his actions. This quote highlights the importance of securing the right to vote for all people, despite race or ethnic background. It also functions as a tip of the requirement to make sure that all people have access to the exact same ballot rights and opportunities.