The Supreme Court in June 2013 issued a decision in Shelby County v. Holder, a case challenging the constitutionality of provisions of the Voting Rights Act. In a 5-4 decision, the Court struck down Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act, invalidating the coverage formula that determines which jurisdictions are covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, and therefore subject to the pre-clearance provisions of the Act. Although the Court acknowledges discrimination, the Court did not rule on the constitutionality of Section 5. With this decision, Congress must update the coverage formula to determine what jurisdictions will be covered by Section 5 and ensure that voters in jurisdictions with current and persistent records of discrimination continue to be protected.
Several of our allies have online petitions asking Congress to restore the Voting Rights Act. Click on the logos to learn more.
In 2015, the Equal Justice Society will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. It’s part of our three-year “Civil Rights at 50” campaign. Join us at our kick-off event on August 28, 2013, the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.