The Issue Of Restrictions On Voter Rights

On June 25, 2013, the Supreme Court made its final decision on the Shelby County, Alabama v Holder, deeming Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act, passed by Congress in 1965 and extended several times, unconstitutional. Section 5, although not being struck down, became insignificant without its triggering formula, Section 4, to determine the coverage. This Supreme Court decision took away the key parts of the Voting Rights Act, which was an important method for the federal government to oversee and enforce the enfranchisement of African-Americans in some states. While justifying their decision, the Court mentioned that Section 4 only applied to specific states and it was against the idea of equal sovereignty of all states in the Constitution. What is more, the Congress’ justification of these unequal actions towards those states in 2006, was based on 40-year old data showing that it was still an exceptional condition, which cannot reflect the current situations and needs of the country.

The Voting Rights Act 42 U.S.C. §§ 1973 et seq., decision is important regarding the laws governing voting rights and their relationship to minority voters. Its implication and effects however does not end within the legal realms and dimensions but continues through to society, culture, and human rights. The Voting Rights Act initially established in 1965 under Lyndon B. Johnson’s administration protected “racial minorities” from biased voting practices. It was a huge stride in the civil rights movement and a victory over harmful, archaic, and biased voting practices and traditions.

The United States has a troubled history of voter suppression. Prior to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, many states used policies such as poll taxes and literacy tests to prevent African Americans from voting. Even after the voting barriers of the Jim Crow era were removed more than 50 years ago, some lawmakers continue to pursue policies that would undermine our nation’s progress.

When the United States was still in its infancy, state versus national citizenship had no clear distinction due to the fact that noncitizen suffrage “was not controversial because voting rights were based on property and race, not citizenship” (Renshon 2008). Although it was without meaning, a precedent was set for which people were to vote in America’s elections: white men. Professor Leon E. Aylsworth (1931), a political science professor who assisted in the drafting of several laws in the Nebraska legislature stated in his article, “The Passing of Alien Suffrage” that:

The Limitation that has been placed since the creation of the Republic on voting were cruel. The Impact of the Revolution which was in part over the issue of voting. Though limitation was grounded on religion test by 1790 all states had eliminated religious requirement for voting. Though the Constitution left the voting matter to the states to deal with. Certain Stated restricted voting to those who owned property, eldest sons over the age 21, poll taxes, or paid high annual taxes, African American, and women were denied the right to vote, ethical and literacy test was conducted, and African American were omitted. Though Black was given the right to vote, the voting ballot was forfeited and if an African American did vote they were beaten to death or beaten.

Ratified in 1868, the fourteenth amendment guarantees equal protection of all persons under the law. In the 1960’s though, African Americans were still being discriminated against because of the color of their skin. After the broadcast of 600 peaceful African Americans being attacked and beaten after attempting to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, President Lynden Johnson decided it was time to create some legislation to prevent incidences such as this from happening in the future. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 have been hailed as some of “the most far-reaching bills on civil rights in modern times” (Schmidt et. al. 2010, 98). At that time in history, they were exactly what the country

In her book Invitation to Law and Society: An Introduction to the study of real law, Author Kitty Calavita discusses the Vagrancy law and its affect on black residents, most of who were jailed due to their inability to prove their employment and later sold to companies as counties received their compensation. (p. 96-97) In comparison to the news story, the restrictions placed on black residents for voting procedures follows along the line of restricting black residents from their freedom to vote without discrimination and harsh policies. Noted in the news article presidential candidate Hillary Clinton refers to the DMV closings as “blast from the Jim Crow past” (Carasik, 2015). With this, careful consideration to revisit the Voting Rights Act helps to ensure that states such as Alabama do not discriminate against their black

Voter ID laws are so strongly opposed by low-income individuals, minorities, and elderly groups. These groups argue the laws target them because of the tendency of to vote democratic. These laws are trying to solve voter fraud where

The United States constitution gives a clear definition who qualifies to be the President of the United States of America. In Article II, Section 1, Clause 5, the constitution states that in order to qualify the person must be a natural-born citizen, be at least 35 years of age and have been at least 14 years a resident. These qualifications have been truncated in order to include only the portion of qualification relevant to the current times.

It goes without saying that for us the last month or so has been pretty hard when it comes to polling.

The Supreme Court decided many cases involving discrimination in access to voting, especially after the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The law and the Court’s interpretive decisions ended racially discriminatory voting restrictions in the United States.

The purpose of this recommendation report is to recommend the best practice for voter identification and consistent voting laws in the United States. The audience for this report includes United States citizens, US Congress, those aspiring to become US Citizens. Based on my research, I recommend that the officials of this country come together to create equal and strict voting laws to ensure the integrity of Presidential Elections.

Following laws and voting are two major responsibilities in which American’s are allowed. Laws are established for a reason and that is to keep American citizens safe. If we abide the country and state laws we are making an effort to try and better our nation. Simply, just following the rules that are set, make Americans fulfilling their responsibilities. Voting is another commodity that we sometimes overlook. Most countries are not diplomatic and do not get to vote on government leaders. Americans get to partake in the election process and they get to participate in deciding the country's fate with their vote. Voting and laws are useful and give more power to the American people.

With the new law set in place, both North Carolina and Alabama eliminated same day registration, cut down on the number of polling places across the states and a number of places where one can get valid photo identification.

Voting is considered by many to be the most important civic opportunity given to American citizens. Voting trends can fluctuate from year to year; however there seem to be common tendencies in the data, which influence predictions in presidential races. I am investigating the effects age has on political affiliation. My assumption is that the older generations will tend to have more conservative political stance, whereas younger generations will tend to have a more liberal type approach. François Guizot, a French monarchist statesman stated long ago, “Not to be a republican at 20 is proof of want of heart; to be one at 30 is proof of want of head”. This, in a way, aligns with my assumption that people are particularly susceptible to adopting