Community Corner

Issue: Did Supreme Court Vote Wisely on Voting Rights Act?

In a 5-4 ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday struck down a section of the 1965 Voting Rights Act that requires federal approval for changes in some local or state voting laws.

In Shelby County v. Holder, the court majority said “things have changed dramatically” in the South.

As Huffington Post reported: “The Voting Rights Act has recently been used to block a voter ID law in Texas and delay the implementation of another in South Carolina. Both states are no longer subject to the preclearance requirement because of the court’s ruling on Tuesday.”

Find out what's happening in Lemon Grovewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“Our country has changed, and while any racial discrimination in voting is too much, Congress must ensure that the legislation it passes to remedy that problem speaks to current conditions,” Roberts wrote.

A “deeply disappointed” President Obama joined a chorus of critics, saying: “While today’s decision is a setback, it doesn’t represent the end of our efforts to end voting discrimination. I am calling on Congress to pass legislation to ensure every American has equal access to the polls. My administration will continue to do everything in its power to ensure a fair and equal voting process.”

Find out what's happening in Lemon Grovewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Did the Supreme Court get it right—saying the provision isn’t needed anymore?  Or did the close decision reflect real concerns about the need for such a law?  Share your thoughts in the comments.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here