US Supreme Court Avoids Major Changes to Section 5 of Voting Rights Act

by: Karl-Thomas Musselman

Mon Jun 22, 2009 at 07:31 PM CDT

The case, Northwest Austin Municipal Utility District v Holder (08-322), began here in Austin The term "political subdivision" was previously defined to include "counties, parishes, and voter-registering subunits." In the decision today, the "bailout" option was expanded to include all governmental subdivisions including Municipal Utility District's like the one in Austin that sought Supreme Court relief.

Today's ruling does not preclude a future challenge to the Voting Rights Act on broader constitutional grounds. Given that the court declined to take advantage of this case for that purpose, it may signal disinterest to address the subject agin for the immediate future. As a result, major changes to Texas election law, specifically a Voter Photo ID requirement and the 2011 redistricting plans, will be subject to review and approval by the Obama Justice Department.

The court's ruling can be read here (pdf).  

Stopping Voter Suppression: The Press Gets It Right in Virginia

by: Project Vote

Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 06:07 PM CDT

Weekly Voting Rights News Update

By Erin Ferns and Nathan Henderson-James

We spend a lot of time in these news updates showing how charges of voter fraud are used to discredit voter participation efforts and prime the pump for voter suppression efforts, such as the passage of voter ID bills, pushing for proof of citizenship, engaging in draconian voter purge efforts, and imposing sever restrictions on voter registration drives. We have also spent a lot of time carefully delineating the politics behind these efforts, starting with our March 2007 report The Politics Of Voter Fraud and continuing on in these diaries to name but two venues.  

Ds speak out against HB 218...the racist Repug voter suppression bill of 2007

by: colin

Tue Apr 24, 2007 at 06:20 PM CDT

I found many of the statements to be particularly interesting, inspiring, or hard-hitting.

Don't Suppress the Vote in Texas

by: sonia

Sat Apr 14, 2007 at 10:04 PM CDT

Texas is one of several states subject to the Voter Rights Act Section 5 pre-clearance whereby election practices or procedures are frozen until the new proposed procedures have been subjected to review by the US Department of Justice.  You wouldn't be too surprised by our state neighbors in the VRA Section 5 pool. You also wouldn't be too surprised that under the Bush administration DOJ pre-clearance has been relatively easy.

LA Times 3/25/2007
Justice Department tugged to the right
Under Bush, the department has been tainted by politics, many say.
(snip)
The Civil Rights Division veterans focused their criticism on major voting case decisions over the last six years that they say have generally benefited the GOP.
The most recent case concerned a 2005 Georgia law that required voters to provide photo identification. Staff attorneys raised concerns about the law after the Georgia secretary of state supplied data showing that tens of thousands of voters might not have driver's licenses or other prescribed forms of identification. They said the plan could effectively disenfranchise large numbers of black voters.

Voting Rights Act Cartoon

by: John McClelland

Thu Jun 29, 2006 at 04:05 PM CDT

http://www.bluenc.com/node/2844

If only it wasn't so close to the truth.

Texas Redistricting Shows Importance of Voting Rights Act

by: Matt

Wed Jun 28, 2006 at 03:30 PM CDT

Hours ago, the Unites States Supreme Court released their ruling in the Texas Redistricting case. It was a strong statement in support of hundreds of thousands of voters in the most diverse parts of the state.

In a time where less Texans are insured, education is failing, and the culture of corruption is sweeping our nation, it is troubling to have the court rule FOR an incumbent protection plan. With no test in place and no restrictions, state legislatures can legally choose to ignore the plight of children and seniors, teachers and doctors, veterans and first responders, and waste time by constantly changing the boundaries of a political district.

The High Court made it clear that political gerrymandering is legal and acceptable as long as voters have their rights protected.  The court was troubled by the simple fact that in Congressional District 23 over 100,000 Latino voters were thrown into a new district to protect the incumbent Republican and weaken the voting power of the minority.

Currently the Voting Rights Act (VRA) is in jeopardy and the House of Representatives has refused to protect the civil rights of every American.

Lamar Smith seen as threat to VRA

by: sonia

Tue Jun 27, 2006 at 11:56 PM CDT

Texas GOP Lawmakers Halt Voting Rights Act

by: Cody Yocom

Fri Jun 23, 2006 at 03:37 PM CDT

According to the Houston Chronicle, " A bill to extend the law for 25 years has support from the White House, top legislative leaders of both parties and a key, GOP-controlled committee that passed it 33 to 1."  So let's get this straight.  The bill has bipartisan support and received almost no friction in the committee.  The legislation simply renews a bill which was passed 25 years ago and is now thought of in such a reverant light that is had resolutions commending the anniversary. 

So how did this all go so wrong?  In walk the Republican Congressmen from Texas.  "I don't think we have racial bias in Texas anymore," said Rep. John Carter, R-Round Rock.