Changes

The basis for the law and where it applies is this:  if there is an evidence of racial discrimination in how elections are run by a State or local government, then it can be designated as subject to the Voting Rights Act for future elections.

The basis for the law and where it applies is this:  if there is an evidence of racial discrimination in how elections are run by a State or local government, then it can be designated as subject to the Voting Rights Act for future elections.

You might be surprised what is considered to be racial discrimination that triggers application of the Voting Rights Act for all future elections.  In Texas, officials did not print a Spanish version of the ballot in one election, and that was considered to be racial discrimination triggering application of the Voting Rights Act for all future elections.  Indeed, ballots now have to be printed at enormous local expense in numerous foreign languages, or else the Voting Rights Act could be applied against the state or local government.

You might be surprised what is considered to be racial discrimination that triggers application of the Voting Rights Act for all future elections.  In Texas, officials did not print a Spanish version of the ballot in one election, and in a 1975 reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act, the criteria for coverage under Section 4 were written to include Texas based upon this action.  Indeed, ballots now have to be printed at enormous local expense in numerous foreign languages, or else the Voting Rights Act could be applied against the state or local government.

The Voting Rights Act requires "pre-clearance" by the U.S. Department of Justice for any changes in election law by a state or local government that is covered by the Act.  When South Carolina passed its voter ID law, the Voting Rights Act gave the Obama Administration the power to delay and object to the law, because South Carolina is covered by the Voting Rights Act.  Even though there is nothing racial about the voter ID law, the Voting Rights Act has been used to prevent its implementation by States in several areas of the Nation.

The Voting Rights Act requires "pre-clearance" by the U.S. Department of Justice for any changes in election law by a state or local government that is covered by the Act.  When South Carolina passed its voter ID law, the Voting Rights Act gave the Obama Administration the power to delay and object to the law, because South Carolina is covered by the Voting Rights Act.  Even though there is nothing overtly racial about South Carolina's voter ID law, the Voting Rights Act has been used to force states to ensure that voting procedures do not have discriminatory purpose or effect.

Florida attempted to trim back its early voting period for the last election, but the Obama Administration used the Voting Rights Act to object to that.  The U.S. Constitution gives the federal government extraordinary powers of "pre-clearance" before any area subject to the Voting Rights Act changes its election laws.

Florida attempted to trim back its early voting period for the last election, but the Obama Administration used the Voting Rights Act to object to that.  The U.S. Constitution gives the federal government extraordinary powers of "pre-clearance" before any area subject to the Voting Rights Act changes its election laws.