Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court are currently arguing the merits of the Voting Rights Act, in particular its most controversial component, Section 5. This provision mandates the following: any change in electoral procedures in specified states with a history of discrimination must be cleared with the U.S. Department of Justice.
During the debate earlier today, Justice Antonin Scalia, the most vocally conservative member (as opposed to Clarence Thomas, the most silently conservative justice) made a remark that caused audible gasps in the courtroom. He declared that "the Voting Rights Law is a perpetuation of racial entitlement." Hmmm! I had never realized that the right to vote was ever considered an "entitlement" rather than a right. (You're some teacher, Mr. Scalia, you really are).
Most states affected by the mandate have a sordid history of imposing draconian limits on the electoral rights of African Americans. However, prior to the 2012 elections, many Republican-dominated state legislatures throughout the country have crafted measures designed to disenfranchise groups likely to vote Democratic; specifically minorities, low-income households, and students. But millions of determined voters in affected states heroically defied the roadblocks, often enduring hours-long waits.
Many states are attempting to mandate voter ID laws, allegedly to combat vote fraud, which is virtually non-existent. Pennsylvania is a perfect case for expansion of Section 5. (State Senate Majority Leader Mike Turzai, infamously crowed that the voter ID law "would allow Romney to win Pennsylvania"). Because time was limited for obtaining IDs, voters were given a reprieve for the 2012 elections. But the state has every intention of enforcing it in 2014.
What's really mind-boggling to me is that Congress has routinely reauthorized the Voting Rights Act; it was last renewed in 2006, unanimously in the Senate. (Even Alabama Senator Jefferson Beauregard Sessions voted aye).
Yet the unelected Supreme Court may have it in its crosshairs!
A decision is expected in May or June. Justice Anthony Kennedy may furnish the pivotal vote. Stay tuned.
--I need four ears to stay tuned to all the
ReplyDeletegoings on of late. But here's the list:
U.S. States Requiring Photo voter ID:
List as of July 2012, lost the source)
-Alabama
-Georgia
-Indiana
-Kansas
-Mississippi
-Pennsylvania
-South Carolina
-Tennessee
-Texas
-Wisconsin
20% of the U.S. has already gone this route,
which is a worry.