Community Corner
Should The Voting Rights Act Be Struck Down?
The Supreme Court is expected to rule in the spring on whether the laws, which were put into place almost half a century ago, are now unconstitutional.
Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments on whether to strike down parts of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which requires some states to consult with the federal government on all voting changes.
An article by USA Today points out that should it be struck down, Southern states would no longer be required to get the federal government's approval to move a polling place, institute photo ID laws or restrict early voting.
One of the reported arguments supporting removing the restrictions is the voting records of Mississippi and Massachusetts. Mississippi, which is still subject to the act, has the best black voter turnout, while Massachusetts, not subjected to any federal oversight, has the worst.
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What do you think? Have we moved past the time when Southern states need to subjected to federal oversight to ensure racism does not creep back into voting laws?
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