Category Archives: Voting Rights Act

“Justice Ginsburg’s Umbrella”

March 4, 2014, 5:39 pmSupreme Court, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

Ellen Katz has posted this draft on SSRN (forthcoming, A Nation of Widening Opportunities? The Civil Rights Act at Fifty, Samuel Bagenstos and Ellen Katz, eds., University of Michigan Press, 2014). Here is the abstract: This Essay relies on an… Continue reading

“Voting Rights Advocates Try to Put Oversight Back on the Map”

February 28, 2014, 7:47 pmVoting Rights Act, VRAARick Hasen

ProPublica reports.

DOJ Changes Its Page Describing Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act

February 25, 2014, 10:25 amDepartment of Justice, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

On February 17 I noted that the DOJ page on Section 5 gave no indication that Shelby County had been decided and that section 5 was no longer being enforced against previously covered jurisdictions. The page has now been updated,… Continue reading

Quote of the Day: Why We Still Need VRA Preclearance Edition

February 25, 2014, 9:37 amVoting Rights ActRick Hasen

“No, ma’am. I don’t vote for black people. They got their place, I got my place.” –Lousiana voter, interviewed by NPR in Democratic Sen. Landrieu Walks A Fine Line In Red Louisiana (h/t Adam Serwer)

“CQ Researcher Voting Controversies v.24-8”

February 21, 2014, 11:04 amelection administration, The Voting Wars, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

Ken Jost has produced a marvelous primer for CQ Researcher on voting controversies. You can purchase it as a stand-alone (or if you are part of a university or organization you may have a subscription). Here’s the abstract: Election laws… Continue reading

“Chief Justice Roberts Was Right: How To Fix The Voting Rights Act”

February 21, 2014, 10:09 amSupreme Court, Voting Rights Act, VRAARick Hasen

Amel Ahmed writes for TPM Cafe.

NAACP LDF Suit in Louisiana Seeks Voting Rights Act Bail-In

February 20, 2014, 8:23 amVoting Rights ActRick Hasen

Press release: LDF and cooperating Louisiana attorney, Ronald L. Wilson, filed a challenge under the Voting Rights Act and the U. S. Constitution to Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana’s 32nd Judicial District Court. A Black candidate has never been elected as… Continue reading

“Responding to Shelby County: A Grand Election Bargain”

February 19, 2014, 10:27 amelection administration, Supreme Court, The Voting Wars, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

Dan Tokaji has posted this draft on SSRN (forthcoming, Harvard Law & Policy Review). Here is the abstract: The immediate reaction to the Supreme Court’s decision in Shelby County v. Holder was predictably fast, furious, and fissured. Some lauded the… Continue reading

DOJ Web Page on Section 5 Does Not Acknowledge Shelby County and End of Preclearance Regime

February 17, 2014, 4:26 pmSupreme Court, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

At some point About Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act should probably be updated. After all, Shelby County was in June 2013.

“Tuesday primary marks 2 years since only use of controversial voter ID law”

February 16, 2014, 8:34 pmelection administration, voter id, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

The latest from Wisconsin.

“Voting-Rights Bill’s Backers Say There’s No Doubt It Will Pass”

February 15, 2014, 4:24 pmVoting Rights Act, VRAARick Hasen

National Journal reports. I would wager that it does not pass this year, despite the optimistic statements from the bill’s supporters.

“Voter ID cases could let John Roberts destroy Voting Rights Act”

February 14, 2014, 4:07 pmThe Voting Wars, voter id, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

MSNBC reports.

Quote of the Day: Federal Government as Gestapo Edition

February 14, 2014, 7:31 amVoting Rights ActRick Hasen

“It’s like a boot’s been lifted off the back of our neck.” —Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp, speaking of what it has been like since Voting Rights Acr preclearance disappeared after the Supreme Court’s Shelby County decision.