Federal Court Rejects Challenge to Voting Rights Act in North Carolina
ACLU Had Intervened in Challenge to Key Provision that Ensures Minorities’ Right to Vote
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: (212) 549-2666; media@aclu.org
WASHINGTON – A District of Columbia federal court today rejected a challenge in North Carolina to a key part of the Voting Rights Act that helps ensure minorities’ right to vote.
The American Civil Liberties Union, along with the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, had intervened in the case, Laroque v. Holder, on behalf of the North Carolina State Conference of the NAACP and six minority residents.
“The right to vote has been under attack across the country, with many states passing laws that will keep minorities, seniors and low-income residents away from the polls,” said Laughlin McDonald, director of the ACLU Voting Rights Project.
“Today’s decision recognizes the importance of the Voting Rights Act for protecting everyone’s right to vote. States that challenge the constitutionality of a law that is so critical for ensuring eligible voters can participate in our democracy are not acting responsibly.”
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is a landmark civil rights law that helps protect the right to vote for language and racial minorities. Under Section 5 of the VRA, certain states with a history of voter suppression – including North Carolina – must have changes to their election laws approved to ensure they are not discriminatory. Today’s ruling expressly rejected a constitutional challenge to the extension of Section 5 of the VRA by Congress in 2006.
The ACLU has also intervened in a case filed by Shelby County, Ala., where the state is challenging the constitutionality of the VRA, and filed motions to intervene in similar cases filed by Arizona and Georgia. Additionally, the ACLU has sent comment letters to the Department of Justice seeking to block discriminatory laws in South Carolina and Texas, and last week filed a lawsuit against Wisconsin’s voter ID law.
To read the court’s opinion in Laroque v. Holder, go to: www.aclu.org/voting-rights/laroque-v-holder-opinion.
ACLU Had Intervened in Challenge to Key Provision that Ensures Minorities’ Right to Vote
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: (212) 549-2666; media@aclu.org
WASHINGTON – A District of Columbia federal court today rejected a challenge in North Carolina to a key part of the Voting Rights Act that helps ensure minorities’ right to vote.
The American Civil Liberties Union, along with the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, had intervened in the case, Laroque v. Holder, on behalf of the North Carolina State Conference of the NAACP and six minority residents.
“The right to vote has been under attack across the country, with many states passing laws that will keep minorities, seniors and low-income residents away from the polls,” said Laughlin McDonald, director of the ACLU Voting Rights Project.
“Today’s decision recognizes the importance of the Voting Rights Act for protecting everyone’s right to vote. States that challenge the constitutionality of a law that is so critical for ensuring eligible voters can participate in our democracy are not acting responsibly.”
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is a landmark civil rights law that helps protect the right to vote for language and racial minorities. Under Section 5 of the VRA, certain states with a history of voter suppression – including North Carolina – must have changes to their election laws approved to ensure they are not discriminatory. Today’s ruling expressly rejected a constitutional challenge to the extension of Section 5 of the VRA by Congress in 2006.
The ACLU has also intervened in a case filed by Shelby County, Ala., where the state is challenging the constitutionality of the VRA, and filed motions to intervene in similar cases filed by Arizona and Georgia. Additionally, the ACLU has sent comment letters to the Department of Justice seeking to block discriminatory laws in South Carolina and Texas, and last week filed a lawsuit against Wisconsin’s voter ID law.
To read the court’s opinion in Laroque v. Holder, go to: www.aclu.org/voting-rights/laroque-v-holder-opinion.
Stay informed
Every month, you'll receive regular roundups of the most important civil rights and civil liberties developments. Remember: a well-informed citizenry is the best defense against tyranny.
By completing this form, I agree to receive occasional emails per the terms of the ACLU’s privacy policy.
The latest in Voting Rights
ACLU's Vision
The American Civil Liberties Union is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America.
Learn More About Voting Rights
Voting is the cornerstone of our democracy and the fundamental right upon which all our civil liberties rest. The ACLU works to protect and expand Americansʼ freedom to vote.