Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Jocelyn Samuels
The right to vote is the bedrock of our democracy.
Fifty years ago this week, 200,000 Americans marched on Washington to demand racial equality, economic opportunity, and voting rights for all. Their call spurred Congress to pass landmark pieces of civil rights legislation, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Inspired by Dr. King’s vision of equal justice and equal opportunity, these laws intended to secure for all in America the fundamental rights guaranteed by our constitution.
This summer, however, the Supreme Court invalidated a core provision of the Voting Rights Act in a case called Shelby County v. Holder. Prior to that ruling, certain states and localities with a history of voting discrimination were required to obtain federal permission, or “preclearance,” before implementing any voting changes. But, as a result of the Court’s recent ruling, those states and localities are no longer required to seek permission before changing their voting rules and practices.
This disappointing decision eliminated one of the Justice Department’s most effective tools in combating discrimination in voting. But this setback has not tempered our resolve to ensure that every eligible citizen has access to the ballot box.
Last week, the Justice Department filed a lawsuit against the State of Texas seeking to block the implementation of its highly restrictive Voter ID law. At the same time, the Department also asked the court for permission to join another pending lawsuit in Texas to challenge the State’s 2011 redistricting plans for its Congressional delegation and its State House of Representatives. We believe that both the Voter ID law and the two redistricting plans are intentionally discriminatory and would deny Hispanics and African Americans an equal opportunity to vote. Our complaint also alleges that the Voter ID law will have the effect of disenfranchising disproportionate numbers of minority voters.
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