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As Republicans we assert that the integrity of the system that guarantees the right tovote is of utmost importance. The south’s history of Democrat Party coordinated initiatives to disenfranchise black American citizens was very real. As such, Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act was at that time based upon Democrat Party activity consistent with Jim Crow laws, to restrict black American voting. Like the Republican Party as a whole, we wish to see all rights to vote secured and edified, and along with that, confidence in the process of electing our representatives.
To be clear, today’s ruling did not argue the necessity of the Voting Rights Act; it simply examined whether Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act was constitutional. In finding that the systemic conditions and practice of blocking blacks from voting essentially does not exist today, the act therefore is not relevant. Thus, the ruling makes Section 5 invalid. The US Congress now has to re-examine the conditions that required the VRA and whether or not the conditions that once required the VRA remain.
To be clear, today’s ruling did not argue the necessity of the Voting Rights Act; it simply examined whether Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act was constitutional. In finding that the systemic conditions and practice of blocking blacks from voting essentially does not exist today, the act therefore is not relevant. Thus, the ruling makes Section 5 invalid. The US Congress now has to re-examine the conditions that required the VRA and whether or not the conditions that once required the VRA remain.
In function, today’s decision ends the practice in which 9 southern states, Georgia included, with a history of racial discrimination must receive pre-clearance from the federal government before changing voting laws. As Institute for Policy Innovation Resident Scholar Dr. Merrill Matthews writes:
“It simply said that Congress had not provided sufficient justification for continuing federal oversight of nine states based on a 40-year-old coverage formula that relied on obsolete statistics when it renewed the legislation.
No remedies are being imposed and no law is being made from the bench. The Court interpreted the Constitution, which is exactly what it’s supposed to do. Whether you agree or disagree with the interpretation is a different issue.” (from Liberals Now CallAny Judicial Action They Don’t Like Judicial Activism)
Read entire responce: http://atlantadailyworld.com/2014/06/17/georgia-black-republican-council-responds-to-voting-rights-act-ruling/
