When the Voting Rights Act was first passed in the mid 1960's, congress put in place special measures that allowed the federal government to review voting and related laws in certain states and counties with a history of racial discrimination. That restriction has stayed in place since that time -- until today. This morning, the Supreme Court ruled that the preclearance restrictions were no longer a valid way to proceed. Chief Justice Roberts pointed out in his decision that there was no way that Congress could validly make distinctions in treatment of the various states on the basis of conditions in place fifty years ago and before. Congress has to consider current conditions.
This ruling is long overdue. Not only have voting restrictions in Southern states been long gone, even the people who voted at that time are gone. It is ridiculous to treat North Carolina and Indiana differently because half a century ago, conditions in North Carolina were different from those in Indiana.
If there is any racial or other discrimination in voting laws, Congress can still step in to remedy the situation. The South, however, is no longer a second class area when it comes to voting rights.
There are those who surely will be upset by this result. Many are the people who see racial discrimination in every voting law change. You know who I mean, the folks who believe that a photo ID requirement is the equivalent of poll taxes and literacy tests. The members of Congress were too scared that they would be labelled bigots and racists if they updated the Voting Rights act to conform to current conditions. This is one of those times when having a judiciary appointed for life came in handy to allow reason to triumph.
This ruling is long overdue. Not only have voting restrictions in Southern states been long gone, even the people who voted at that time are gone. It is ridiculous to treat North Carolina and Indiana differently because half a century ago, conditions in North Carolina were different from those in Indiana.
If there is any racial or other discrimination in voting laws, Congress can still step in to remedy the situation. The South, however, is no longer a second class area when it comes to voting rights.
There are those who surely will be upset by this result. Many are the people who see racial discrimination in every voting law change. You know who I mean, the folks who believe that a photo ID requirement is the equivalent of poll taxes and literacy tests. The members of Congress were too scared that they would be labelled bigots and racists if they updated the Voting Rights act to conform to current conditions. This is one of those times when having a judiciary appointed for life came in handy to allow reason to triumph.
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