It’s one of the most important resolutions on the docket. Without our voting rights fascism is all but a sure thing. Voter suppression is rooted in racism.
In 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court gutted essential parts of the Voting Rights Act, allowing GOP legislatures to enact some of the most racially discriminatory district maps in state history.
Last year, a federal judge in Georgia ruled that GOP-drawn maps were discriminatory and unlawful because they diluted Black voting power and ignored the state’s growing Black population.
In North Carolina, voting rights advocates filed suit charging GOP legislators with racially gerrymandering the state House and Senate maps by deliberately diluting the voting power of majority-Black areas.
And in Louisiana, a federal court determined that GOP-created maps violated the Voting Rights Act by weakening the power of Black voters. The state was ordered to finalize a new map
early this year.
Recently in Alabama, the Republican legislature refused to comply with a federal judge’s order to create fair voting maps that better represented Black voters. It had to be enforced by court order.
so 57,000 #uncommitted democrats voted in Michigan told Biden to stop supporting #genocide? y'all know he barely Georgia (or was it Arizona) with less than 20K votes, right?
57,000 for Michigan is a big fucking swing vote.
we know these #primaries are bullshit. #Democrats blocked all contenders to manufacture these phony victories. so stop the "he's crushing it".
Biden doesn't have a 2024 mandate... yet.
BUT! the best news? looks like more Dems are voting in primaries than MAGA fash.
"🚨 Republicans go public with NIGHTMARE attack", nationwide
"Democracy Watch episode 85: Marc Elias discusses a raft of Republican states lining up behind Brad Raffensperger's plan to gut the Voting Rights Act."
Big-time voter suppression in Texas *the state makes it difficult to register, limits voting accessibility, & uses gerrymandering, corrupt schemes...
"It took me three tries to register to vote. I'm still thinking about how not everyone has the ability, the time, the resources to ask questions, double-check their reg. status, & make multiple attempts. Being able to participate in democracy should not be this hard-."
An appeals court ruling in an Arkansas case could make it impossible for groups like the ACLU to file lawsuits to protect citizens’ right to vote – significantly changing how the #VotingRightsAct has been interpreted so far.
A constitutional law professor expects, since the ruling disagrees with other rulings, that the Supreme Court will hear the case.
The St. Louis-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit found in a 2-1 ruling Monday that only the U.S. Attorney General is authorized to sue states and municipalities under Section 2 of the #VRA, which prohibits discriminatory voting practices on the basis of race, color or other protected characteristics.
The ruling bars groups like the NAACP from asking the courts to enforce the law
The decision is likely to be appealed to the #SupremeCourt and, if allowed to stand, could severely undermine enforcement of the 1965 #VotingRightsAct John Fritze reports.
Currently, the ruling applies to seven states, including Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota.
"If allowed to stand, the two [Trump appointed judiciary] rulings would gut the protections offered by the Voting Rights Act. Civil rights groups, individual voters, and political parties would not be able to challenge discriminatory voting practices. This includes redistricting gerrymandered maps and voter ID requirements."
APPEALS COURT BLOCKS CITIZENS FROM FILING LAWSUITS UNDER VOTING RIGHTS ACT
For decades, private citizens and groups have been able to file claims under the #VotingRightsAct to seek redress for racial #gerrymandering and other rules violations. In Feb 2022, a Trump appointed judge reversed that, ruling only the Justice Department can file such claims. Now, a three judge panel on appeal upheld that lower court ruling. #law#votingrights#civilrights#USpol#politics
This radical 8th Cir decision would essentially gut the remaining nationwide protections of #VotingRightsAct by preventing anyone other than DOJ from enforcing them. This is deeply wrong, and it goes against decades of precedent and practice.
Democracy Docket:
BREAKING: 8th Circuit severely weakens Section 2 of VRA in certain states by ruling that there is no private right of action under Sec 2. This means that only DOJ — not indivisible & orgs — can sue under Sec 2 #legal