LOD: Old Law’s Lasting Value

For anyone thinking the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is no longer needed, consider the crucial role it has played in beating back measures to make voting harder in several states covered by VRA’s Section 5 pre-clearance provision. Without such protection, a federal judge might listen to evidence of the clear discriminatory impact of a photo ID requirement and still uphold the law as reasonable, as happened in Pennsylvania. But Facing South explains that rigid ID and other voting restrictions are being thrown out in Southern states by judges attuned to VRA’s special application in these jurisdictions. Facing South’s overview provides good links for further information in each case. Not surprisingly, the VRA is under constant attack by rightwing elitists who look for cases that might give the US Supreme Court majority an excuse to become legislators, ala the Citizens United decision. One such case stems from former NC Rep. Stephen LaRoque’s lawsuit against the use of the VRA to block changes in how the city of Kinston holds its elections. LaRoque is now facing federal money laundering charges and has resigned from the NC General Assembly in disgrace, but his lawsuit has a peculiar life of its own, thanks to the backing of the Pope-Koch network of groups.