ATLANTA (June 25, 2013) – Senator Vincent Fort (D-Atlanta) has released the following statement regarding the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down Section 5 of the Voter Rights Act of 1965:
“I am outraged by the Supreme Court’s decision to void a vital section of the monumental Voter Rights Act,” said Sen. Fort. “As recently as 2006, the U.S. Senate unanimously reauthorized the law while Congress nearly unanimously renewed the act. This decision is a representation of the Supreme Court’s being out of the mainstream publics opinions, concerns and ideologies regarding voting issues.
Section 5 is a necessary measure that grants all Americans the equal opportunity to vote, a sacred privilege that many before us have fought to obtain and preserve. Since 2000, the U.S. Department of Justice has blocked twelve proposed voting changes in Georgia alone. In the last 10 years the Georgia General Assembly, along with the governors in power, have annually passed some of the most restrictive voter I.D. laws undermining the voting rights of people of color and the elderly. I will continue to voice my opposition to this ruling and protect each American’s right to vote regardless of race, age, class or gender.”
The Supreme Court struck down the Shelby County v. Holder case by a ruling of 5-4 and deemed Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act unconstitutional. The decision invalidates Section 5, which lists the required states, many of them with histories of racial discrimination that need approval from the U.S. Department of Justice before changing voting laws.
RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
June 25, 2013
For Information Contact:
Jennifer Yarber, Interim Director
Adam Sweat, Communications Specialist
Adam.Sweat@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028