These cases show just how far we have left to go to defend our right to vote and how hard opponents of voting will work to ensure they hold their power over the will of the people.
We can stop them by turning out voters and winning elections. RUSH $35 or more right now to defend our fundamental right to vote >> [[link removed]]
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ELB: Supreme Court Reverses Lower Court Order That Redrew Congressional Map in Staten Island, with Ominous Implications for Voting Rights Act [[link removed]]
John:The Supreme Court didn't rule on Louisiana v. Callais , but a decision from the so-called "shadow docket" holds some ominous warning signs for that case and the future of the Voting Rights Act (VRA).
The Supreme Court recently reversed a lower court order requiring the drawing of a "minority opportunity district" in New York state. The lower court had ruled that that type of district was likely required under the New York state Constitution.
" What's that kind of district ," you ask? Minority opportunity districts are electoral districts drawn during redistricting to ensure minority populations can elect candidates of their choice , often functioning as "majority-minority" districts. These districts help minorities overcome historical underrepresentation and are mandated by the Voting Rights Act to prevent the use of gerrymandering to dilute minority voting power.
Well, the opponents of voting rights on the Supreme Court didn't care about that. Conservative Justice Samuel Alito, writing for the majority in the sudden decision, said that that race conscious districting in state laws and state constitutions is “ unadorned ” and “ odious ” racial discrimination. Against white people, we assume he means.
This is most ominous for 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 redistricting 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.
John: We're fighting every day to preserve the values of the Voting Rights Act and protect our fundamental right to vote. Will you help fuel our work with $35 or whatever you can today and help us [[link removed]] to spread the word about these cases and the consequences of dismantling the VRA? [[link removed]] >> [[link removed]]
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“ 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.
Ari Berman at Mother Jones said it best after oral arguments: " 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 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, with the VRA no longer able to stop white majorities from locking racial minorities out of elected office through racial gerrymandering.
We cannot afford to go backwards like this. Pitch in $35 or however much you can to help us fulfill the mission of the VRA by informing and turning out every voter possible for the upcoming elections >> [[link removed]]
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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.
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