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(Image Source: News One)
BY JAMAL ANDRESS
The U.S. Department of Justice seems to be taking a stand against the Supreme Court ruling
in Shelby County v. Holder. Attorney General Eric Holder is filing a lawsuit requiring
Texas to get permission from the Federal Government before making voting changes.
Section 5 of the the Voting Rights Act required all states with a history of voting
discrimination to get approval from the federal government before changing their voting laws,
but the Supreme Court's decision ruled Section 5 unconstitutional. (Via Youtube / Newsuem)
"This is the department's first action to protect voting rights following the Shelby
County decision, but it will not be our last..." (Via NewsOne)
These are the areas which were covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. According
to the New York Times, since the Supreme Court ruling, four states have already pushed to
enact Voter ID laws which were not approved by federal court. (Via The Washington Post)
Not even 48 hours after the Supreme Court's ruling, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott
said its state's voter ID law "will go into immediate effect."
...the same voter ID law which MSNBC deemed the strictest in the country and is described
by Holder as a "poll tax." Prior to the Supreme Court's ruling a federal court found the law
discriminated against Blacks and Latinos.
Attorney General Holder told the National Urban League he will use every tool at his
disposal to fight discrimination. (Via U.S. Department of Justice)
Holder said he
would make use of a different part of the Voting Rights Act to try to keep preclearance
in place for Texas while Congress debates changes to Section 5. (Via ABC)
As you might imagine there's been some push back from Texas state officials, starting
with Governor Rick Perry.
"... the Obama Administration is demonstrating
utter contempt for our country's system of checks and balances, not to mention the U.S.
Constitution." (Via Dallas Morning News)
The Texas Attorney General, who happens
to be running for Governor, joined in, tweeting: "I'll fight Obama's effort to control our
elections & I'll fight against cheating at ballot box."
North Carolina is set to vote on it's own controversial voting bill Thursday, and if
it passes the DOJ will reportedly file suit there as well.