Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD)
Democrats and voting rights supporters more generally aren't letting up on Alabama's decision to close 31 driver's license offices shortly after putting a voter ID law into effect. On Monday, Alabama Rep. Terri Sewell released a letter calling on the Justice Department to investigate the move. Following that, House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer linked Alabama's move to the need to restore the Voting Rights Act:
“The Voting Rights Act was born from the bloody actions in Selma, Alabama, in March 1965, and since the Supreme Court struck down one of its most important protections – the federal Justice Department’s ability to prevent discriminatory rules like Alabama’s photo identification requirement – our democracy has been weakened," Hoyer said in a statement Monday evening.
In 2013, the Supreme Court invalidated the formula determining which states – which, at the time, included Alabama – were required to get "pre-clearance" from the federal government or a panel of judges before implementing changes to voting practices. The case itself originated in Alabama. There is speculation that Alabama stalled on implementing its photo ID voting law until the Supreme Court weighed in on the provision. Alabama's photo ID law was passed in 2011, but not put into effect until 2014.
Republicans, of course, are standing in the way of restoring the Voting Rights Act. Because they don't like voting rights.
Calling all Advocates to get involved #RestoreTheVRA!
Posted By: agnes levine
Friday, October 30th 2015 at 2:25PM
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