Voting Rights
More on Voting Rights
U.S. News
By Congressman Marc Veasey
Voting rights matter. They are a major part of who we are as Americans. Throughout our nation's history, the right to vote has been expanded by Constitutional amendments and legislation. For decades, civil rights activists fought tirelessly to ensure equal access to the ballot box for all Americans. Major strides were made with the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, a historic civil rights law which ensured that the right to vote not be denied on account of race or color.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
By Anaa M. Tinsley
Area voters heading to the polls this week for a tax ratification election need to bring something extra with them: a photo ID.
U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth, disagrees and has been among those fighting these requirements.
“It's a sad fact that year after year, minorities in Texas are shown over and over again that we cannot depend on Abbott to protect our voting rights,” he said. “And again, he is also spending the dollars of hardworking taxpayers to implement and wage court battles to uphold this discriminatory law.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Chris Tomlinson
Unless a federal judge intervenes, the South Texas city of Edinburg could be the first to enforce a new voter ID law next week. And lawyers will likely use the special election to gather evidence to strengthen lawsuits to block it in the future…
DALLAS/FORT WORTH, TX - U.S. Congressman Marc Veasey (D-TX) issued the following statement today in response to Attorney General Eric Holder’s announcement that the U.S. Department of Justice will file suit against the state of Texas ruling that the state’s strict voter I.D. legislation is in direct violation of Section 2 in the Voting Rights Act:
Texas Tribune
Jody Serrano
The Dallas County Commissioners Court voted to join U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey in a lawsuit urging a federal district court to issue an injunction against the voter ID law. The law requires voters to present one of seven forms of state or federal identification or a so-called election identification certificate, which can be obtained from the state's Department of Public Safety.
A fight against the state's contentious voter ID laws escalated this week when Dallas County became the first Texas county to claim that the requirements would disenfranchise thousands of eligible voters.
Burnt Orange Report
Edward Garris
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.
Dallas Morning News
By Emily Wilkins
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.
Dallas Morning News
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.