Knocking out this leg of the Voting Rights Act -- by weakening Section 2 -- would almost certainly reconstitute state legislatures, city councils, judicial districts, and every other type of political boundary in which racial minorities could be cut off from having a voice in their government.

This kind of change would silence untold numbers of voters and spiral our fight for voting rights back sixty years. RUSH $15 or more right now to help protect what the VRA stands for and defend our fundamental right to vote >>

We'll hand this straight to Mother Jones, John: "The Supreme Court, with its six-to-three Republican-appointed majority, appears ready to kneecap what remains of the Voting Rights Act’s protections for minority political representation."

The descriptive language seems harsh, but the objective of these justices seems clear -- a complete dismantling of our seminal civil rights law. We've said it before and will say it again, but it's been clear long before the MAGA movement that Chief Justice Roberts has seen the removal of the VRA as one of his top goals for his time on the Court. It appears he may be on the cusp of succeeding.

During this week’s oral argument in Louisiana v. Callais, at least five conservative justices seemed ready to handicap the VRA so that it will no longer stop white majorities from locking racial minorities out of elected office through racial gerrymandering.

The consequences are simple to understand and grave for voter participation. The harder we make it to vote, the more politicians make voter participation feel worthless, the less people actually take part. Needless to say, the less people who participate, the less our democracy and our government looks like the people it's supposed to represent.

John: We have to spread the word about this case and the consequences of dismantling the Voting Rights Act. Fuel our work with $15 or whatever you can today and help us defend the right to vote >>

At issue in the case is Section 2 of the VRA, which requires that racial minorities have an equal opportunity to meaningfully participate in the electoral process. This provision has been used to strike down districting schemes and maps that prevented Black voters and other racial minorities from electing their preferred representatives. Since 1965, Section 2 has given people of color a seat at the table, from school boards to the halls of Congress. It appears this 60-year era is coming to an end. 

“Race is a part of redistricting always,” Justice Sonia Sotomayor said, addressing the solicitor general from Louisiana, who was arguing against an existing map that had enabled the election of two Black members of Congress in his state. “What you’re saying to us [is]…‘You can use [race] to help yourself achieve goals that reduce particular groups’ electoral participation, but you can’t use it to remedy that situation.’”

Striking down the last remnants of the Voting Rights Act is exactly why the Supreme Court held this case over from last year. Gutting Section 2 would take us backwards in time and allow racial gerrymandering to be a standard practice, silencing more voters. Just like the redistricting fights across the country, this is all about whether the party in power can choose their voters in order to stay in power in perpetuity.

We simply can't afford to go backwards like this. Will you chip in with $15 or more to help us fight back against these partisan efforts to silence voters? >>

Integrity First Voter Action Project is dedicated to expanding ballot access and increasing voter participation across the country.

Since the Supreme Court gutted key provisions in the Voting Rights Act, extreme politicians have taken advantage to pass harsh laws that restrict access to the ballot box. These restrictions particularly affect disadvantaged communities and people of color. It’s our goal to bring awareness to these laws wherever they may crop up and organize voters to take action to ensure the right to vote is available to everyone in their states and communities.

Your support is crucial to our efforts. Will you donate today to help us protect voting rights?

Contributions or gifts to Integrity First Voter Action Project are not tax-deductible as charitable contributions or as business expenses under IRC Section 162(3). Integrity First Voter Action Project is organized and operates under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code.

A copy of Integrity First Voter Action Project's latest financial report may be obtained by mail at Integrity First Voter Action Project, c/o Mele Brengarth & Assoc, PO Box 15845, Washington, DC 20003.

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Integrity First Voter Action Project
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