“Finally, a presidential candidate is acknowledging the rampant voting discrimination that has surged since the Voting Rights Act was gutted in 2013. Voting is a cornerstone of our nation’s commitment to democracy, and Clinton’s acknowledgment of its importance is noteworthy.
Following the decision in Shelby County v. Holder, the country saw a spate of state laws increasing barriers to voting and diluting minority voting strength, putting the right to vote in more danger than it has been at any time in the past 50 years. Unless Congress acts soon, voters will continue to face this discrimination at the polls as they attempt to participate in the first modern presidential election without protections of the Voting Rights Act.
Those who oppose restoring the Voting Rights Act want us to believe that racial discrimination only exists in the history books. But today’s headlines tell a different story. From Texas to Wisconsin, from California to North Carolina, modern voting discrimination – in the form of inequitable redistricting plans, restrictive voter ID laws, artificial barriers to voting, elimination of early voting opportunities, and unfair polling place changes– is alive and thriving.
Clinton understands that voting rights are a core American value. Other candidates should catch up to the voters who want to see this law restored. Recent polling from The Leadership Conference found that 81 percent of voters support the Voting Rights Act and 69 percent of voters want Congress to restore it. This support is widespread among voters of all races, parties, and regions of the country.
We applaud Clinton’s commitment to restoring the Voting Rights Act and urge all candidates from both parties to do the same.”
