Early on, the Voting Rights Act helped to snuff out state and local jurisdictions’ blatant disenfranchising of voters, primarily African-Americans, through initiatives such as poll taxes, literacy tests, fraud and manipulation.
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August 6 marked the 50th anniversary of the passage of the Voting Rights Act, landmark civil rights legislation for the protection of voters from discrimination.
“On the 50th anniversary of this extraordinary event in our nation’s history, let us remember all the men and women and their contributions to making America a more just and fair society”, Pierce said. Those counties and states previously subject to federal oversight did not need federal approval to make changes to their voting laws or practices. But in 2013 the Supreme Court invalidated key provisions, and many states, almost all of them under Republican control, passed new voting restrictions that critics say target minority voters.
The Department of Justice filed suit, alleging that the law violates the Voting Rights Act by denying or abridging the rights of black Americans.
But “on the ground”, Obama said, “there are still too many ways in which people are discouraged from voting”.
“We are greatly encouraged by today’s decision”, said Gary Bledsoe, president of the Texas State Conference of NAACP branches, one of the groups that filed suit to oppose the voter ID laws.
“(T)hat is critical to the integrity of our democracy”, said the Greenville native who has been returning the Palmetto State to push for better access to healthcare for the poor.
“In theory everybody’s in favor of the right to vote”, said Obama.
“Heroic things happen when you get involved”, Obama said. He discussed the law at a national teleconference with Representative John Lewis of Georgia and Attorney General Loretta Lynch, both voting rights advocates.
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Michaux said his fingers are crossed that the Texas ruling will influence the decision of the federal judge in Winston-Salem who will decide on the constitutionality of North Carolina voting laws. She added that “our state’s common sense voter ID law remains in effect”. The Voting Rights Act is credited with enfranchising racial minorities across the U.S. and especially in the South. It also ended Election Day registration, preregistration for those aged 16 and 17, and out-of-district voting, and it required voters to show photo identification at the polls.
