To: The United States House of Representatives and The United States Senate
Restore Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965!
In 2013 the Supreme Court invalidated a key section of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) that had required states with a history of discrimination to have new voting laws approved before those laws took effect. The 5-4 decision in Shelby County v. Holder had an immediate impact for voters across the country as new voting restrictions became a reality. They said Section 5 was too broad and appeared to be no longer needed.
This issue was poorly decided as within hours of the decision Texas passed its voter suppression bill in waiting, followed by similar legislation in other red states within weeks. In essence, invalidating Section 5 of the VRA created a voter suppression climate where dozens of states passed a version of voter suppression laws. with ACLU and other entities filing counter lawsuits which take years to adjudicate.
I don't think that was the intent of the Supreme Court, so that is why we need Congress to restore Section 5 of VRA in such a form that would be acceptable to the Supreme Court.
This issue was poorly decided as within hours of the decision Texas passed its voter suppression bill in waiting, followed by similar legislation in other red states within weeks. In essence, invalidating Section 5 of the VRA created a voter suppression climate where dozens of states passed a version of voter suppression laws. with ACLU and other entities filing counter lawsuits which take years to adjudicate.
I don't think that was the intent of the Supreme Court, so that is why we need Congress to restore Section 5 of VRA in such a form that would be acceptable to the Supreme Court.
Why is this important?
I started this petition to restore Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act to counter the bevy of Voter Suppression laws many states recently passed.
VOTING RIGHTS SHOULD NEVER BE SUBJECT TO THE WHIMS OF POLITICAL PARTIES.
VOTING RIGHTS SHOULD NEVER BE SUBJECT TO THE WHIMS OF POLITICAL PARTIES.