Changes

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.

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 overtly racial about South Carolina's voter ID law (like many of the laws with the effect of restricting black voting during the Jim Crow era), the Voting Rights Act has been used to force states to ensure that changes to voting procedures do not have discriminatory purpose or effect.

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,<ref>Some opponents of voter ID laws compare them to Jim Crow era laws that sought to limit voting by blacks</ref> the Voting Rights Act has been used to force states to ensure that changes to 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 to grant or deny "pre-clearance" necessary for any covered jurisdiction to make changes to 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 to grant or deny "pre-clearance" necessary for any covered jurisdiction to make changes to its election laws.