On the anniversary of Martin Luther King’s untimely death, Attorney General Eric Holder urged the United States Supreme Court to preserve the “crown jewel” of the civil rights movement: Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 .
The federal provision requires states with a history of racial discrimination in voting to seek federal approval or “preclearance” before changing voting laws. The high court is now assessing whether this provision is still needed. Learn more about preclearance here.
The Associated Press reports:
“Let me be clear: While this country has indeed changed, and real progress has been made, we are not yet at the point where the most vital part of the Voting Rights Act can be described as unnecessary or a product of a flawed political process,” the attorney general told the National Action Network.
“As we await the court’s decision, I want to assure you that — no matter the outcome — the Department of Justice will remain committed to the aggressive and appropriate enforcement of all voting and civil rights protections, including every part of the Voting Rights Act,” Holder said.
Thirty states have introduced voter suppression bills since the beginning of the year, according to Project Vote’s recent report, Election Legislation 2013: Threats and Opportunities Assessment. In addition to outlining anti-voting bills across the country, the report covers legislative efforts to improve access to the democratic process.