Modernize Voting Rights Act
Modernize Voting Rights Act
Georgia has fulfilled goals of landmark 1965 legislation
U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-Ga.) called on the House Judiciary Committee today to modernize the Voting Rights Act before seeking a vote on the bill as the panel takes up the legislation this week.
"The Voting Rights Act renewal, as it stands, is blatantly unconstitutional," Westmoreland said. "That's not according to Lynn Westmoreland; that's according to the Supreme Court of the United States."
The Supreme Court ruled in 1966 that Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act - which requires stringent federal oversight of election laws in several states, mainly in the Deep South - was constitutional only because it was narrowly tailored and "temporary."
"We're already well past temporary' at 41 years and cruising toward eternity by tacking on another 25 years of keeping Georgia in the penalty box," Westmoreland said.
Which states Section 5 covers is based on a formula measuring minorities' access to the polls in the 1964, 1968 and 1972 elections. The renewal gives NO consideration to changes in voter equality since 1972.
"According the Judiciary Committee, what's going to determine minorities' right to political participation in the year 2031 is who got to vote for or against Richard Nixon," Westmoreland said. "Maybe I'm missing something but does this make sense to anybody?
"Black Georgians vote at higher rates than white Georgians. There are nine black statewide elected officials - most of whom defeated white opponents - including our state attorney general, the labor commissioner and three state Supreme Court justices, one of whom is chief justice. Show me ONE state not covered by Section 5 that has attained Georgia's level of diversity in state elected offices and voter equality. Just one. Please."
Westmoreland is calling for the House to update the Voting Rights Act by applying Section 5 coverage based on voter participation in the 2004 elections rather than the 1964, 1968 and 1972 elections.
"No rational person can argue that nothing has changed in Georgia since 1972," Westmoreland said. "I hope to work with Judiciary Chairman James Sensenbrenner to implement logical updates to this very important bill. We all support the ideals of the Voting Rights Act and applaud the tremendous improvements this landmark legislation has brought to our country."
http://westmoreland.house.gov/news/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=42996