Over a year ago, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a critical element of the Voting Rights Act, the coverage formula. The coverage formula required jurisdictions with histories and ongoing practices of discrimination in voting practices and laws to “preclear” their voting changes with the U.S. Department of Justice or the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Voting changes were analyzed to see if they were influenced by a discriminatory purpose or would harm minority voters in their jurisdictions.
The Voting Rights Amendment Act (VRAA) will modernize the coverage formula of the Voting Rights Act to tie it to recent patterns of voter discrimination. Congress needs to pass this law to ensure that all voters, including members of the Asian Pacific American community, are able to exercise their fundamental right to vote. Click here to read NAPABA’s Statement Opposing Voter Suppression Efforts.
Since the VRAA (HR 3899/S 1945) was introduced this January, the Senate has held one hearing on the bill, and the House has failed to act. We need your help! Tell your members of Congress to pass the Voting Rights Amendment act now by clicking here to sign this petition.