WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) – U.S. Rep. Susan Davis (D-San Diego) has cosponsored the bipartisan Voting Rights Amendment Act (H.R. 3899) to reinstate and strengthen voting protections that were recently struck down by the Supreme Court last year. These provisions were designed to protect voters in states with a history of racial discrimination by requiring these states to get pre-clearance when altering their voting laws.
“While a lot of progress has been made in voting rights over the years – much of that due to the Voting Rights Act – there is still a need to ensure that eligible voters a have equal access to polls,’” said Rep. Davis. “The updated formula prescribed in the bill will provide those protections and adhere to the judicial concerns expressed by the Court.”
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Keeping Up With Jewish Public Officials: Susan Davis
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In June 2013, the Supreme Court invalidated Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act. This section outlined the formula prescribing which states and jurisdictions with a history of discrimination must obtain pre-clearance before changing any voting law. However, in its ruling, the Court declared that Congress may draft another formula based on current conditions.
Rather than single out certain states, H.R. 3899 would establish nationwide coverage where pre-clearance would be triggered if a state commits voting violations within a recent time period and/or has persistently lower minority voter turnout.
In 2006, the Voting Rights Act was reauthorized with Davis voting in the House in favor of reauthorization. In Shelby County v. Holder, the Supreme Court struck down Section 4 containing the formula for pre-clearance. The bipartisan VRAA is in response to the Court ruling.
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Preceding provided by Congresswoman Susan Davis. Articles in San Diego Jewish World on Jewish Democratic women in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives are sponsored by Laura Galinson in memory of her father, Murray Galinson.
I welcomed ths Supreme Court decision and don’t think it should be overturned legislatively. The South of today is far from Selma, Alabama of 1964. I don’t think we’re in danger of returning to Jim Crow. Why are we still fighting the demons of yesteryear? So many african-americans have returned to the South to work and live. I think we’ve advanced enough where we can trust the normal chanels to take care of any illegal voting supression by states and localities rather than have constant federal monitoring.