Hoyer: Two Years Ago the Equal Access of Every American to Vote Was Dealt a Serious Blow

WASHINGTON, DC - House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today marking two years since the Supreme Court's ruling in Shelby County v. Holder, which struck down voting rights protections:

“Two years ago, the equal access of every American to vote in our elections was dealt a serious blow by the Supreme Court, which invalidated part of the landmark Voting Rights Act that Congress passed and President Johnson signed in the wake of “Bloody Sunday” and the Selma-to-Montgomery marches in 1965.  The Court’s decision to strike down the law’s preclearance provision removed a key tool of the Justice Department for preventing discriminatory practices by state and local governments, which were rampant in the century before the law’s enactment.  In her dissent, Justice Ginsburg aptly noted: ‘Throwing out preclearance when it has worked and is continuing to work to stop discriminatory changes is like throwing away your umbrella in a rainstorm because you are not getting wet.’  Today, we are already seeing the return of some of these nefarious practices, which effectively disenfranchise minority voters and deter eligible voters from registering and casting ballots. 

“In order to end this lapse in protection, Congress has a responsibility to pass legislation to create a new preclearance formula that can withstand the Court’s test.  I’m proud to have cosponsored legislation by Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers and the Voting Rights Advancement Act introduced by Reps. Terri Sewell, John Lewis, Linda Sanchez, and Judy Chu yesterday.  I hope House Republican leaders will work with us to move legislation to the Floor to restore the full power of the Voting Rights Act.  We must ensure that every American’s voice is heard in our democracy.”