Attorney General Eric Holder announced Thursday the Justice Department is opening a new front in the battle for voting rights in response to a Supreme Court ruling that dealt a major setback to voter protections.
In a speech to the Urban League in Philadelphia, the attorney general said the Justice Department is asking a federal court in San Antonio to require the state of Texas to obtain approval in advance before putting future voting changes in place.
This requirement to obtain "pre-approval" from either the Justice Department or a federal court before making changes to voting laws is available when intentional voting discrimination is found.
It is the department's first action to protect voting rights following the Supreme Court's decision on June 25, "but it will not be our last," Holder said in prepared remarks.
"Even as Congress considers updates to the Voting Rights Act in light of the court's ruling, we plan, in the meantime, to fully utilize the law's remaining sections to ensure that the voting rights of all American citizens are protected."
Holder said that based on evidence of intentional racial discrimination presented last year in the redistricting case in Texas, "we believe that the state of Texas should be required to go through a preclearance process whenever it changes its voting laws and practices."
In Texas, there is a history of "pervasive voting-related discrimination against racial minorities," Holder added.
Gee, ya think?
Of course this kind of aggressive move by the AG is only going to inflame the Teabaggers who will proclaim big government interference and overreach.
But considering the fact that the Supreme Court has arbitrarily decided that racism is dead, and has overturned critical aspects of the Voting Rights Act, it is unclear what choice the administration has at this point.
I swear that it seems there are forces attempting to divide us along racial lines and move us closer to another civil war every day.
"Gee, ya think?"
ReplyDeleteWell said, Gryph.
Of course this kind of aggressive move by the AG is only going to inflame the Teabaggers who will proclaim big government interference and overreach.
ReplyDeleteDead on Gryphen. Wait til Sarah fires up her Facebook page and caterwauls on how Holder is coming after their guns, Bibles and time tested truths. More sarahPAC dollars.
So... why doesn't EVERY state have to pre-clear changes to voting? Seems like a pretty fundamental protection for us all, especially considering the incredibly low standards for state office holders.
ReplyDeleteRuth Bader Ginsberg's decision was spot-on. And the AG and President Obama's response was perfect. This is clearly an attempt to codify racism and abort voters rights for African Americans, Latino's and all Immigrants.
ReplyDeleteLike Boscoe stated, EVERY state should have to pre-clear changes - it protects all voters.