Think you know everything about the Voting Rights Act Reauthorization? What are the three Sections up for Reauthorization?
The NAACP spells it out:
They are:
Section 5, which requires certain jurisdictions to obtain approval or "preclearance" from the US Department of Justice or the US District Court in D.C. before they can make any changes to voting practices or procedures;
Section 203, which requires certain jurisdictions to provide bilingual language assistance to voters in communities where there is a concentration of citizens who are limited English proficient; and
Sections 6-9 which authorize the federal government to send federal election examiners and observers to certain jurisdictions covered by Section 5 where there is evidence of attempts to intimidate minority voters at the polls.
THE MESSAGE:
* The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed to supplement the 15th Amendment; it further guarantees that no federal, state or local government shall in any way impede or discourage people from registering to vote or voting because of their race or color. Section 5, section 203 and the enforcement provisions in sections 6-9 are crucial in protecting the right to vote for all Americans.
* As extensive hearings in the House and Senate have shown, however, there are some states, local municipalities and jurisdictions that have proven records of discrimination and are still trying to use official means to discourage racial and ethnic minority Americans from registering and voting.
* The NAACP supports and applauds the hard work by Senators and Representatives from both parties to address this issue. The legislation they have introduced, S. 2703 / H.R.9, the Fannie Lou Hammer, Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006, is a direct result of this hard work and cooperation. It should be enacted as soon as possible.
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