Congress Must Act to Guard Our Most Important Right

Abstract

The recent Supreme Court decision in Shelby County v.Holder, invalidating the “pre-clearance” formula of the Voting Rights Act — which required states with a history of race discrimination in voting to secure federal approval prior to changing election practices — provides an opportunity for Congress to strengthen protection of minority voting rights.

While discriminatory methods today are far from the lynch mobs and grandfather clauses that stopped blacks from voting during Jim Crow, the end result of voter suppression and dilution remains largely the same. Congress should act quickly and decisively on this core American principle in order to ensure minority participation in the democratic process.

Keywords: Congress, Voting Rights Act, Shelby County v. Holder, race discrimination, election practices, voter suppression, Justice Department

JEL Classification: J71, J78, J79, K19, K39, K49