Why We Need Reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act
The VRA is widely viewed as the nation's most effective civil rights legislation
- Before the VRA was passed in 1965, the federal government did not challenge how states established and administered their own voting requirements. As a result, many states used to used various methods to prevent people of color from voting, including literacy tests, poll taxes, the disenfranchisement of former inmates, intimidation, threats, and even violence. The VRA made it possible for millions of previously disenfranchised minority voters to exercise their constitutional right to vote.
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Voter Registration Rates |
|||||||
|
|
March 1965 |
November 1988 |
|
||||
|
Black |
White |
Gap |
Black |
White |
Gap |
|
|
|
|
19.3 |
69.2 |
49.9 |
68.4 |
75.0 |
6.6 |
|
|
|
27.4 |
62.6 |
35.2 |
56.8 |
63.9 |
7.1 |
|
|
|
31.6 |
80.5 |
48.9 |
77.1 |
75.1 |
-2.0 |
|
|
|
6.7 |
69.9 |
63.2 |
74.2 |
80.5 |
6.3 |
|
|
|
46.8 |
96.8 |
50.0 |
58.2 |
65.6 |
7.4 |
|
|
|
37.3 |
75.7 |
38.4 |
56.7 |
61.8 |
5.1 |
|
|
|
38.3 |
61.1 |
22.8 |
63.8 |
68.5 |
4.7 |
|
The VRA provisions set to expire protect voters in certain jurisdictions that have documented histories of discriminating against minority voters
- Certain states and local governments with documented histories of voter discrimination are required to seek federal pre-approval for any changes to their voting laws or procedures. These changes include redistricting, annexation, changes to the type of election, use of at-large elections, re-registration requirements, polling place changes, and new rules for candidate qualifying.
The law enables large numbers of minorities to register and vote without fear of intimidation, harassment, or discrimination
- It is critical that the federal oversight provided by the VRA provisions continues to protect minority voters’ basic civic rights.
For nearly half a century these provisions have eliminated hurdles to voting for African Americans, Hispanics, Asian Americans, Native Americans, and other minority groups
- Since the VRA has been in effect, the Justice Department has made over 1,000 decisions to stop proposed voting law changes which would have discriminated against minority voters.
The elimination of federal oversight over state voting law changes undermines the entire Voting Rights Act
- If this provision expires, discriminatory changes to voting laws can go into effect without any federal oversight. To stop the discriminatory laws, civil rights lawyers will have to wait for courts to decide the legality of the laws. Meanwhile elections will continue to take place and minority voters will suffer the effects of the discriminatory laws.
Poll watchers and examiners reassure minority voters that someone is there to protect their rights
- Without federal election officials guarding against abuse, discrimination will be more widespread, resulting in many minority voters being disenfranchised or staying home on Election Day.
The VRA is the best line of defense for voters who are not English proficient
- If a community qualifies, registration and voting materials for all elections must be provided in English as well as the minority language. Before bilingual elections, many citizens whose first language was not English did not register to vote because they felt intimidated and were not able to fully understand the registration or balloting materials.
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