Posted on 02/01/2013 3:39:41 PM PST by mdittmar
Washington, D.C.- Nevada Senator Harry Reid today issued the following statement after filing an amicus brief with the United States Supreme Court in support of upholding Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA), which provides the legal avenue to challenge measures that discriminate against minority voters. The case, Shelby County, Alabama v. Eric Holder, Jr., Attorney General of the United States, puts Section 5 of the VRA in jeopardy:
“Voting is the most fundamental of our rights as Americans, and the Voting Rights Act is one of the most important laws Congress has ever passed. The Voting Rights Act, and in particular Section 5 of the law, provides crucial protection for minority voters living in jurisdictions with a history of racial discrimination. This law was reauthorized in 2006 and passed the U.S. Senate by a vote of 98-0, based on an extensive legislative record. Congress recognized that unfortunately bigotry still exists in this nation, and that there are still those who would seek to suppress the vote on the basis of race. Indeed, during the 2012 election cycle, insidious efforts were made in various states to suppress voter turnout in minority communities.
“Today, I filed an amicus brief with United States Supreme Court to make clear my belief that Section 5 is not only constitutional, but a critical tool in upholding the promise of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Although our nation has made great progress in fighting prejudice and discrimination, the recent election demonstrates that Section 5 remains necessary to ensure that every eligible voter has the right to cast a ballot. If the Supreme Court dismantles this historic civil rights law and overrules the considered judgment of the people’s elected representatives, it will be a tremendous step backwards for freedom and equality in this country. I urge the Court to respect Congress’s judgment concerning what is necessary to prevent racial discrimination in election practices, and to uphold Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.”
Background on Shelby County, Alabama v. Eric Holder, Jr., Attorney General of the United States
Shelby County is challenging Section 5 of the Voting Rights Acts (VRA). Section 5 of the VRA requires jurisdictions in 16 states with a history of racial discrimination to receive pre-clearance from the federal government before changing voting procedures, to ensure that the proposed change will not discriminate against minority voters. Such changes could be moving a polling location, drawing new districts, requiring photo ID, or other such actions. Shelby County’s lawsuit challenges Section 5 on the basis that the preclearance requirement is an encroachment on state sovereignty and that preclearance is no longer needed. In 2006, Congress reauthorized the Voting Rights Act for an additional 25 years. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 98-0.
Well harry,name 'em!
ol’harry knows.
Voter ID insures that EVERY LEGITIMATE VOTE is counted, and not negated by multi-voters, mail-in phony votes, drive-by votes in multiple precincts, etc., and is STIFLED CONSIDERABLY by Voter ID. IF you can't produce an ID, you don't vote. You produce ID to get Obamaphones and don't bitch about it, you produce ID to get WIC and Welfare funds, and EBT's, but you can't produce Photo ID to Vote?
There's not even a hint of guilt for the Fraudulent vote-counts and Re-Election of Democrats, by WHATEVER MEANS NECESSARY (such as the defeat by Franken and the defeat of Allen West, and the Re-Election of the Mulatto Messiah in 2012).
If you have outstanding Warrants, and don't want to produce Valid Voter ID, DON'T VOTE.
It sure would be nice if senators were still under the control of the states that elected them.
Like here:
In 59 Philadelphia voting divisions, Mitt Romney got zero votes
December 31, 2012 - www.philly.com
It’s one thing for a Democratic presidential candidate to dominate a Democratic city like Philadelphia, but check out this head-spinning figure: In 59 voting divisions in the city, Mitt Romney received not one vote. Zero. Zilch.
Yeah huh. My Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo is now apparently under the influence of Drunken State.
As a side note to voting rights, please consider the following. Given that the states have never amended the Constitution to make not having to show photo ID in order to vote a right, I find it disturding that the pre-election 2012 movement for states to require a photo ID in order to vote seem to have been forgotten.
That can’t be said ENUF!!!!
US Senators elected by STATE Legislators COULD possibly stem allot of these problems in the toilet bowl of Washington DC.
The 17th amendment has been a disaster.
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