June 25
Supreme Court Strikes Down Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act
Shelby v. Holder Decision Released Today
HOUSTON - June 25, - Today, the Supreme Court ended 50 years of voter protection with its declaration that Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act was unconstitutional, with a 5-4 vote. This provision set a formula for determining which jurisdictions were subject to pre-clearance by the Department of Justice when passing new election laws.
In response to the decision to overturn the formula requiring jurisdictions with a history of voting rights abuses to submit their electoral laws for pre-clearance, voting rights advocates are mobilizing. While Section 5 was upheld, the Supreme Court declared that the formula in Section 4 was unconstitutional and asked Congress to devise a new formula. The Texas League of Young Voters Education Fund, along with coalition partners, filed an amicus brief for Shelby v. Holder prior to today’s decision in defense of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.
“Voting matters, voting rights matter, and young voters are on the front lines of protecting the universal right to vote,” Christina Sanders, state director of the Texas League of Young Voters Education Fund said. “I am disappointed in the Supreme Court’s decision, but confident that Millennials will keep organizing until our electoral system reflects our values: diversity, equality, and empowerment.”