Voting Rights
The Voter ID battle is heating up, and now, it appears that Dallas County is jumping into the fray.
In June, we reported that Congressman Marc Veasey filed a lawsuit in federal district court to stop Texas' Voter ID law from going into effect. Texas had passed an onerous Voter ID law during the 2011 legislative session. Efforts to stop the law had been successful as the law could not be precleared under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama pledged to black lawmakers Tuesday that he will help rebuild the Voting Rights Act after a Supreme Court ruling gutted federal oversight of states with a history of bias.
“He’s with us, and he wants to make sure we do something to strengthen voting rights for all Americans,” Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth, said at the White House after Obama met with members of the Congressional Black Caucus.
Black lawmakers said they also discussed how to develop a new formula for deciding which states deserve extra scrutiny.
In this whirlwind of voting news, it can be hard to keep up.
Last Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act, which had established a formula determining which states would be required by Section 5 to “pre-clear” election changes before implementing them. Texas was one of nine states that had been included but now was off the hook.
The reaction in the state was swift: Within hours, Attorney General Greg Abbott announced that the state’s previously blocked voter ID law would immediately go into effect.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – This morning, the Supreme Court announced its decision in Shelby County v. Holder, which questioned the constitutionality of the Voting Rights Act. In a 5-4 decision, the court left Section 5 of the VRA intact, maintaining the preclearance provisions. However, the Court struck down Section 4, which determines which jurisdictions will be required to seek preclearance under Section 5. As a result, Congress must now create the new formula for determining which jurisdictions will be covered under Section 5.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Wednesday, February 27, Congressman Marc Veasey delivered the following remarks in support of the Voting Rights Act, Section 5. Preceding oral arguments for Shelby County v. Holder, Rep. Veasey participated in a rally outside the Supreme Court and was joined by other Members of Congress, community leaders and activists.
Remarks as prepared for delivery:
“Good morning. I’m Congressman Marc Veasey, representing Texas’ 33rd Congressional District.