VRA Timeline

Resources



About the Voting Rights Project
About the ACLU Voting Rights Project

Since its earliest campaign to thwart the notorious prosecution of the Scottsboro Boys in the 1930s, the ACLU has been intensely involved in civil rights. And for the past four decades the organization has won some of the most important and precedent setting cases to come out of the South, ... READ MORE >>



ACLU Voting Rights Project 2007 Summer Internships Now Available
Voting Rights Project 2007 Summer Internships Now Available ... READ MORE >>



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Challenging Arizona's Proposition 200
Voting Rights Coalition Challenges Proposition 200
On May 24, 2006, A coalition of voting rights groups filed a lawsuit to try to derail provisions of Proposition 200 that require Arizonans to prove their citizenship when registering to vote and to take their identification to the polls. The suit was filed Wednesday in a U.S. District Court in Phoenix on behalf of a broad-based coalition made up of organizations including the AARP, the ACLU, the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, the Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona and the Hopi Nation…. ... READ MORE >>



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Challenging Photo ID Requirements for Voting - Florida
Department of Justice Preclears Florida Voter Suppression Measure
On September 6, 2005, the Department of Justice precleared another round of voter suppression changes – this time to Florida law. This decision came only ten days after the the non-partisan Miami-Dade Election Reform Coalition of Florida (which includes the ACLU of Florida, the NAACP and approximately 18 other groups) sent the Department of Justice a 16-page letter accompanied by 48-pages of appendices urging federal officials to deny preclearance to HB 1567, a new Florida law that would end the use of sworn voter affidavits to prove identity at the polls. The measure also moves every challenged voter to a provisional ballot even if the allegations in the challenge can be immediately disproved. HB 1567 also shifts the counting of provisional ballots to the end of the canvassing period and amends existing Florida law to expand the buffer zone to prohibit soliciting to assist voters to within 100 feet of the polls. According to the Coalition, all these measures would make black and Latino voters worse off... ... READ MORE >>


Florida Voting Rights Advocates Submit Data to Support Their Discrimination Claim
On August 26, 2005, the non-partisan Miami-Dade Election Reform Coalition of Florida (which includes the ACLU of Florida, the NAACP and approximately 18 other groups) sent the Department of Justice a 16-page letter accompanied by 48-pages of appendices urging federal officials to deny preclearance to HB 1567, a new Florida law that would end the use of sworn voter affidavits to prove identity at the polls. ... READ MORE >>



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Challenging Photo ID Requirements for Voting - General Research
Civil Rights Groups Oppose National Voter ID Requirements
Forty organizations, including the ACLU, have joined together to oppose H.R. 4844, which imposes new stringent photo identification requirements for voting. ... READ MORE >>


ID & Voting Rights: 21st Century Voting Rights Barrier
The following article by Tova Andrea Wang, which was published recently in Mother Jones magazine, offers a good overview of voter suppression legislation in various states. It includes links to useful materials, such as the June 2005 University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee study documenting racial disparities in drivers’ licenses and more… ... READ MORE >>


The Driver License Status of the Voting Age Population in Wisconsin
Because one of the most important employment issues facing central city Milwaukee residents is access to a valid drivers license, the UWM Employment and Training Institute has conducted considerable research on drivers license suspension and revocation issues for Milwaukee adults and teenagers and explored the impacts of past and current state policies suspending licenses for failure to pay fines and forfeitures on residents of central city neighborhood. This research report provides a first-time analysis of drivers license issues based on the racial/ethnicity of drivers and unlicensed adults in Wisconsin. ... READ MORE >>



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Challenging Photo ID Requirements for Voting - Georgia - 2005 Litigation & Legal Developments
Detailed Fact Sheet on Lawsuit Challenging Georgia Photo ID Law Now Available
On September 19, 2005, a consortium of voting rights advocates and private attorneys filed suit in federal district court in Rome, Georgia, challenging H.B. 244, Georgia's photo ID requirement for voting. Download the detailed, three-page fact sheet on the case and the issue here... ... READ MORE >>


Judge Denies State's Request to Stay Preliminary Injunction
On Thursday, Oct. 20, 2005, U.S. District Court Judge Harold Murphy denied the State of Georgia's request that he suspend implementation of his preliminary injunction pending their appeal to the 11th Circuit. ... READ MORE >>


Voting Rights Advocates Challenge Georgia Photo ID Law in Federal Court
ATLANTA – A consortium of voting rights advocates and private attorneys filed suit today in federal district court in Rome, Georgia, challenging House Bill 244, charging the law violates the state and federal constitutions, the 1965 Voting Rights Act, and the 1964 Civil Rights Act. ... READ MORE >>



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Challenging Photo ID Requirements for Voting - Georgia - 2006 Litigation & Legal Developments
2006 Georgia Photo ID Challenge Fact Sheet & Timeline
Download the attached fact sheet describing the latest developments as of March 29, 2006 in Common Cause v. Billups, the challenge to Georgia's photo ID requirement for in-person voting. ... READ MORE >>


Judge issues order blocking voter ID law
Click here to view U.S. District Court Judge Murphy's order blocking the voter ID law in next week's primary. ... READ MORE >>



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Challenging Photo ID Requirements for Voting - Georgia - General
Asian Americans Oppose Georgia’s Photo Identification Requirement for Voters
August 24, 2005, New York, NY - Today, the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund filed comments under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act urging the Attorney General to deny preclearance to Georgia’s new photo identification requirement, HB 244. There are almost 200,000 Asian Americans residing in Georgia... ... READ MORE >>


Distance to the Nearest Drivers License Office Anywhere in Georgia
To check the driving distance between any location in Georgia and the Department of Driver Services office nearest to you, see the following map... ... READ MORE >>


Distance to the Nearest Drivers License Office in Metro Atlanta
To check the driving distance between any location in Metro Atlanta and the Department of Driver Services office nearest to you, see the following map... ... READ MORE >>


Map Showing Sparse Distribution of Ga. Department of Driver Services Sites Statewide
Click on the link provided to view a map of the locations of the 56 Department of Driver Services offices serving all 159 counties in the State of Georgia. No office is located within the city limits of Atlanta... ... READ MORE >>



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Challenging Photo ID Requirements for Voting - Georgia - U.S. Department of Justice Section 5 Oversight
ACLU Files Supplementary Comment Letter to Department of Justice
In this July 11, 2005, comment letter to the U.S. Department of Justice, the ACLU Voting Rights Project argues that the Georgia legislature lacked the constitutional authority to impose new and restrictive voter identification requirements... ... READ MORE >>


ACLU Highlights Florida Data on Retrogressive Impact of Photo ID Requirements
In an April 14, 2006, letter to the U.S. Department of Justice, the ACLU cited data from 2005 Florida study showing the retrogressive effect of photo ID requirements on black and Hispanic voters. ... READ MORE >>


Advancement Project Urges DOJ to Block Georgia Photo ID Requirement for Voting
Read the comment letter sent by the Advancement Project to the Department of Justice urging DOJ not to preclear H.B. 244, Georgia's photo identification requirement for voting. ... READ MORE >>


Asian American Legal Defense & Education Fund Urges DOJ to Block Latest GA Photo ID Requirement
April 12, 2006, the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund filed comments under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act urging the Attorney General to deny preclearance to Georgia’s new photo identification requirement, SB 84. There are almost 200,000 Asian Americans residing in Georgia.

AALDEF has monitored ... READ MORE >>


Civil Rights Groups Urge Justice Department to Block Georgia Photo ID Law
JULY 8, 2005 ATLANTA -- More than two dozen civil rights, religious, labor and advocacy groups urged the Department of Justice to block implementation of a new Georgia law which they say will have a substantially negative "racial impact" on minority voters. The groups argue that the new photo identification ... READ MORE >>


Law Professors Urge DOJ to Block Georgia Photo ID Requirement
On August 18, 2005, five prominent law professors, Adam Cox of the University of Chicago Law School, Heather Gerken of Harvard Law School, Michael Kang of Emory Law School, Spencer Overton of George Washington University Law School and Daniel Tokaji of the Moritz College of Law at Ohio State University jointly signed a nine-page letter urging the U.S. Department of Justice not to grant preclearance to H.B. 244, Georgia's restrictive photo identification requirement for voters... ... READ MORE >>


NAACP Legal Defense Fund Urges U.S. Justice Department to Block Georgia Photo ID Law
On August 3, 2005, the NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund sent this 14 page letter to the U.S. Department of Justice, urging DOJ not to grant preclearance to H.B. 244, Georgia's restrictive voter identification requirement... ... READ MORE >>


Read the DOJ Decision Authorizing Preclearance of Georgia's Restrictive Photo ID Requirement
On August 26th the U.S. Department of Justice cleared Georgia's restrictive photo identification law for voting. DOJ issued its preclearance decision at approximately 5 p.m. on Friday evening. The letter itself contains nothing substantive, but is being provided here as a matter of public record for those who are interested. ... READ MORE >>


State of Georgia Responds to DOJ Request for More Information
On July 22, 2005, the State of Georgia responded to the Department of Justice's request for more information in connection with the state's submission requesting preclearance of HB 244, the state's restrictive photo identification requirement for voting... ... READ MORE >>


State of Georgia Submits Preclearance Request to DOJ
On June 10, 2005, the State of Georgia sent the U.S. Department of Justice a 389-page submission, requesting preclearance of the state's new restrictive voter identification law... ... READ MORE >>


Supporting Documentation for March 28, 2006 Letter to DOJ
March 29, 2006 ATLANTA – In a letter sent yesterday to federal officials, more than two dozen civil rights, community, religious and citizen advocacy groups, along with a consortium of private attorneys, urged the U.S. Department of Justice to block implementation of the latest Georgia law requiring photo identification as an absolute condition for in-person voting. ... READ MORE >>



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Challenging Photo ID Requirements for Voting - Indiana
Indiana Civil Liberties Union and Broad Coalition Challenge State’s New Voting Rights Rules
April 28, 2005 -- INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indiana Civil Liberties Union, acting on behalf of a broad coalition including state representatives and advocacy groups, today filed a challenge to a new state law with the most restrictive voting requirements in the nation, including a mandate that government-issued photo identification must be presented in order for most Hoosier citizens to cast their ballots...[NOTE: This case has been removed to federal court, where it can now be found using the following federal court case number: 1:05-CV-00634] ... READ MORE >>



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Challenging Photo ID Requirements for Voting - Louisiana
In 1994 the U.S. DOJ Rejected Restrictive Photo ID Requirements for Voters in Louisiana
In 1994, the U.S. Department of Justice rejected restrictive voter identification requirements submitted for pre-clearance by the State of Louisiana. These requirements were very similar to the Georgia measure now awaiting a preclearance determination by DOJ... ... READ MORE >>



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Challenging Photo ID Requirements for Voting - New Mexico
ACLU Challenges Albuquerque Voter ID Law
ALBUQUERQUE—The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Mexico filed a civil rights lawsuit today asking the federal court to declare Albuquerque’s recently-passed Voter I.D. Amendment “unconstitutional, illegal, null and void.” ... READ MORE >>



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Challenging Photo Identification for Voting - Missouri
Missouri Photo ID Law Struck Down by State Court
In a major victory for voting rights advocates, a state court judge has struck down the recently passed Missouri law requiring photo ID for voting. ... READ MORE >>



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Felon Enfranchisement
"Democracy's Ghosts" Film Screening in Atlanta
The ACLU Voting Rights Project and the National Center for Human Rights Education will host a June 15, 2006, screening of the 34-minute documentary film, “Democracy’s Ghosts,” followed by a moderated panel discussion, in Atlanta, Georgia... ... READ MORE >>


PURGED!
How flawed and inconsistent voting systems could deprive millions of the right to vote.
The ACLU, along with seven national organizations, participates in Right to Vote, a national coalition to end felony disfranchisement policies.
The ACLU is also conducting an ex-felon public education and mobilization campaign with affiliates in Georgia, New Jersey, North Carolina and Southern California, to educate ex-felons about their voting rights ... READ MORE >>


ACLU Files Suit Challenging Mississippi Denial of Voting Rights To Persons With Felony Convictions
October 6, 2006 - The ACLU of Mississippi and the ACLU Voting Rights Project filed suit challenging the state’s denial of voting rights to citizens with felony convictions. ... READ MORE >>



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Native American Voting Rights
ACLU Challenges At-Large Elections in Fremont County Wyoming
Read the complaint filed by the ACLU on behalf of Native American voters in Fremont County Wyoming... ... READ MORE >>


ACLU Charges South Dakota County Blocking Native Americans from Holding Public Office
January 27, 2005 - CHARLES MIX COUNTY, SD--The American Civil Liberties Union today filed a federal lawsuit charging the Charles Mix County Commission with violating Native American voting rights by using election districts that are unequal in population and divide the Native American community. ... READ MORE >>


ACLU Wins 8th Circuit Ruling in City of Martin, SD, Voting Rights Case
May 5, 2006 - Underscoring the continuing problems facing Native American voters, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals today issued an opinion in favor of Indian voters in the City of Martin, South Dakota. The plaintiffs, represented by the ACLU, had brought suit challenging city voting districts as intentionally and effectively diluting the voting strength of Native Americans in violation of the Voting Rights Act and the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments. ... READ MORE >>


Challenge to Tribal ID ban for voting is successful
The National Congress of American Indians and the Minnesota ACLU combined with American Indian plaintiffs to file a groundbreaking and successful lawsuit against the State of Minnesota for discriminating against American Indian voters by denying them the right to vote using tribal government-issued ID cards during the 2004 Presidential election. ... READ MORE >>


Federal Court Orders South Dakota to Comply with Voting Rights Act
August 19, 2005 - RAPID CITY, SD-The American Civil Liberties Union announced today that a federal court in South Dakota has issued a final ruling ordering the redrawing of legislative district lines to ensure there is no discrimination against Native American voters in 13 of the state's 66 counties. The order came in a case originally brought by the ACLU on behalf of four Native American voters in December 2001, after the South Dakota legislature redrew the boundaries of the state's 35 legislative districts. "The court's decision ordering the redrawing of district lines is a victory for all South Dakotans because it reaffirms the importance of fairness at the ballot box, which benefits everyone, Indians and non-Indians alike," said Bryan Sells, a staff attorney with the ACLU Voting Rights Project and lead counsel in the case. ... READ MORE >>


Jim Crow Indian Style: The Disenfranchisement of Native Americans
In 1965 Congress enacted the Voting Rights Act, which spurred the black voting rights movement in the South and set the stage for major changes in the national political system. The campaign for equal voting rights spread to Hispanic communities of the rural southwest and urban barrios. Indians have taken the path developed by blacks and Hispanics to seek enforcement of the fifteenth amendment by challenging election schemes and systems devised by towns bordering reservations, counties, and school districts throughout the West and Southwest... ... READ MORE >>


Native American Plaintiffs Secure Summary Judgement in Charles Mix County Case
Federal judge grants plaintiff's motion for partial summary judgment in Charles Mix County (SD) Native American voting rights case. ... READ MORE >>


South Dakota Ordered to Comply with Voting Rights Act in Bone Shirt Case
August 23, 2006 - ST. LOUIS, MO -- The American Civil Liberties Union welcomed the Aug. 22 final federal appeals court decision affirming the redrawing of legislative district lines in South Dakota to ensure there is no discrimination against Native American voters... ... READ MORE >>


The Voting Rights Act in Indian Country: South Dakota, A Case Study
By Laughlin McDonald
The problems that Indians continue to experience in South Dakota in securing an equal right to vote strongly support the extension of the special provisions of the Voting Rights Act scheduled to expire in 2007. They also demonstrate the ultimate wisdom of Congress in making permanent and nationwide the basic ... READ MORE >>


Three-Judge Panel Rules Unanimously in Favor of Native American Voters in South Dakota
JULY 14, 2005 - RAPID CITY, SD -- The American Civil Liberties Union announced today that a panel of three federal court judges has issued an injunction against the state of South Dakota, ruling unanimously that state officials must comply with the federal Voting Rights Act (VRA) and obtain prior ... READ MORE >>



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VRA - Section 203 Language Assistance for U.S. Citizens
1986 General Accounting Office Report on the Cost of Language Assistance Under the VRA
The Voting Rights Act outlaws voting discrimination against racial or language minorities, and the provisions of Section 203 of the Act require certain states and political subdivisions to provide written and oral assistance to speakers of Spanish, Asian languages, Native American languages and Alaskan Natives. As of October 1, 1984, 375 political subdivisions in 21 states were covered by these requirements. (Today the number is 466). This 1986 report by the General Accounting Office provides an excellent overview of the statute as well as some of the key cost issues involved in providing language assistance. ... READ MORE >>


1997 General Accounting Office Report on the Cost of Language Assistance Under the VRA
This 1997 GAO Report updates the findings published 11 years earlier by the GAO on the cost of providing language assistance under Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act. ... READ MORE >>


Asian Language Voting Rights Materials Available
Access a wide range of educational and informational resources about Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act and related issues, including material in Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese. ... READ MORE >>


Comprehensive Report on Minority Language Assistance of the VRA
"Minority Language Assistance Practices In Public Elections," is the most comprehensive report yet produced documenting the implementation of the Minority Language Assistance provisions of Sections 4(f)(4) and 203 of the landmark 1965 Voting Rights Act... ... READ MORE >>


Defending the Language Assistance Provisions of the Voting Rights Act
Download this excellent fact sheet on the language assistance provisions of Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act. ... READ MORE >>


State Laws Provide Avenue for Language Assistance
In addition to the federal protections for language minorities under the Voting Rights Act, many states have similar provisions that provide for language assistance... ... READ MORE >>



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VRA Enforcement Actions
DOJ Objection Letter Applies Discriminatory Purpose Standard
DOJ Objection Letter Applies Discriminatory Purpose Standard of Renewed Voting Rights Act to Block Local Election Change in Randolph County, Georgia... ... READ MORE >>



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VRA Fact Sheets & Basic Information
"A PROMISE IN JEOPARDY" ACLU Voting Rights Act Flyer
Download and print this one-page flyer on the Voting Rights Act. ... READ MORE >>


"How the Voting Rights Act Works: Implementation of Civil Rights Policy, 1965-2005
For an excellent overview on the history and mechanics of the Voting Rights Act, see the following paper by Peyton McCrary, Historian, Civil Rights Division, United States Department of Justice. B.A., M.A., University of Virginia; Ph.D., Princeton University. ... READ MORE >>


Everything You've Always Wanted to Know About Redistricting
This pamphlet attempts to answer some of the questions most frequently asked about redistricting... ... READ MORE >>


Frequently Asked Questions About the VRA
Click on the link below to download an FAQ on the VRA. ... READ MORE >>


Latinos and Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act: Beyond Black and White – National Black Law Journal (2005)
In this three-part essay, published in the National Black Law Journal (Volume 18: Number 2, 2005), Juan Cartagena tells the story of how the Puerto Rican community in the U.S. was instrumental in shaping the policies of the Voting Rights Act toward Latinos regarding both Section 5 and Section 203 protections. Cartagena also focuses on how rampant discrimination against Mexican American voters in Texas shaped the Section 5 coverage amendments of 1975. He concludes by delving into the larger debate over majority minority districts and Latino representation. ... READ MORE >>


MLK Day Voting Rights Flyer
PLEASE E-MAIL Nichole Yunk in the ACLU Washington, D.C. Field Department at nyunk@dcaclu.org AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, and by no later than 4:00 EST on Wednesday, January 11, 2006, to request fliers to arrive by this Friday, January 13. Please specify quantity.
... READ MORE >>


New "Voting Rights Timeline" Poster Available
The ACLU Washington Legislative Office has available new timeline posters documenting the history of voting rights in the United States. The posters are perfect for teachers, activists, librarians and anyone else concerned about voting rights. ... READ MORE >>


The 1965 Voting Rights Act: What Expires and What Does Not
In 2007, three crucial sections of the Voting Rights Act will expire unless Congress votes to renew them...

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The Language Minority Assistance Provisions of the Voting Rights Act
The Director of the Census Bureau Makes Determinations of Jurisdictions Subject to the Minority Language Assistant Provisions of the Voting Rights Act... ... READ MORE >>


Voting Rights Statute Text
Click on the pdf icon below if you want to download or read the full text of the Voting Rights Act, as enacted originally in 1965 and subsequently amended by Congress in 1970, 1975, 1982 and 1992, ... ... READ MORE >>



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VRA Renewal - 2005 Congressional Testimony
Complete House Judiciary Committee Record on VRA Renewal
The House Judiciary Committee website now contains a complete compendium of all the hearing testimony and webcasts since October 2005 on VRA renewal. ... READ MORE >>


Congressional Testimony of ACLU President, Nadine Strossen
Read Nadine Strossen's testimony in favor of VRA renewal. ... READ MORE >>


Congressional Testimony of Ann Marie Tallman
Read Ann Marie Tallman's testimony in favor of VRA Renewal. ... READ MORE >>


Congressional Testimony of Armand Derfner
Read Armand Derfner's testimony in favor of VRA Renewal. ... READ MORE >>


Congressional Testimony of Bradley Schlozman 11-08-05
Read Bradley Schlozman's testimony on the language minority provisions of the VRA... ... READ MORE >>


Congressional Testimony of Brenda Wright
Read Brenda Wright's testimony in favor of VRA Renewal... ... READ MORE >>


Congressional Testimony of J. Gerald Hebert
Read Gerald Hebert's testimony in favor of VRA renewal ... READ MORE >>


Congressional Testimony of Jack Kemp
Read Jack Kemp's Testimony in favor of VRA Renewal. ... READ MORE >>


Congressional Testimony of Joe Rogers
Read Joe Rogers' statement in favor of VRA Renewal ... READ MORE >>


Congressional Testimony of Jose Garza
Read Jose Garza's testimony in favor of VRA Renewal. ... READ MORE >>


Congressional Testimony of Laughlin McDonald - 10-25-05
Read Laughlin McDonald's testimony in favor of VRA Renewal... ... READ MORE >>


Congressional Testimony of Laughlin McDonald 11-09-05
Read Laughlin McDonald's testimony on repairing the 2003 decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in Georgia v. Ashcroft... ... READ MORE >>


Congressional Testimony of Linda Chavez 11-08-05
Read the testimony of Linda Chavez in opposition to Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act... ... READ MORE >>


Congressional Testimony of Marc Morial
Read Marc Morial's Testimony in favor of VRA Renewal. ... READ MORE >>


Congressional Testimony of Margaret Fung 11-08-05
Read Margaret Fung's testimony in favor of the language minority provisions of the VRA... ... READ MORE >>


Congressional Testimony of Michael Steele
Read the testimony of Michael Steele in favor of VRA renewal... ... READ MORE >>


Congressional Testimony of Rebecca Vigil Giron 11-08-05
Read Rebecca Vigil Giron's testimony in favor of the language minority provisions of the VRA... ... READ MORE >>


Congressional Testimony of Tyrone Brooks 11-09-05
Read Tyrone Brooks' testimony on repairing the 2003 decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in Georgia v. Ashcroft... ... READ MORE >>


Opening Statement of Subcommittee Chairman Steve Chabot (R-OH)
Read the opening statement of U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH)... ... READ MORE >>


Press Statement of NALEO
Read the press statement of the National Association of Latino Elected & Appointed Officials Educational Fund on the occasion of House Judiciary Committee hearings on VRA renewal. ... READ MORE >>


Press Statement of Ted Shaw
Read the press statement of Ted Shaw in favor of VRA Renewal ... READ MORE >>


Press Statement of Wade Henderson
Read the Press Statement of Wade Henderson on the Occasion of the House Judiciary Committee Hearings on VRA Renewal - October 18, 2005 ... READ MORE >>



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VRA Renewal - 2006 Congressional Testimony
April 27, 2006, Senate Testimony of Cong. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) on VRA Renewal
Read the April 27, 2006, testimony of Congressman James Sensenbrenner (R-WI), Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, before the Senate Judiciary Committee, presenting the findings of the House Judiciary Committee concerning ongoing voting discrimination and the need to renew the expiring provisions of the VRA. ... READ MORE >>


April 27, 2006, Senate testimony of Cong. John Conyers (D-MI), on VRA Renewal
Read the April 27, 2006, testimony of Congressman John Conyers (D-MI), Ranking Minority Member of the House Judiciary Committee, before the Senate Judiciary Committee on renewal of the Voting Rights Act. ... READ MORE >>


May 4, 2006, Testimony of Chris Norby on Section 203
May 4, 2006, testimony of Chris Norby Supervisor, Fourth District, Orange County Board of Supervisors, on Section 203, the language assistance provisions of the VRA, and H.R. 9, before the Constitution Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee. ... READ MORE >>


May 4, 2006, Testimony of Debo Adegbile on H.R. 9.
May 4, 2006, testimony of Debo Adegbile, Associate Director of Litigation, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund Inc., on H.R. 9, before the Constitution Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee. ... READ MORE >>


May 4, 2006, Testimony of Dr. James Thomas Tucker on Section 203
May 4, 2006, testimony of Dr. James Thomas Tucker, Voting Rights Consultant, NALEO Educational Fund and Adjunct Professor, Barrett Honors College, Arizona State University, on Section 203, the language assistance provisions of the VRA, and H.R. 9, before the Constitution Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee. ... READ MORE >>


May 4, 2006, Testimony of J. Gerald Herbert on H.R. 9
May 4, 2006, testimony of J. Gerald Herbert, Former Acting Chief, Civil Rights Division, Department of Justice on H.R. 9, before the Constitution Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee. ... READ MORE >>


May 4, 2006, Testimony of Karen Narasaki on Section 203
May 4, 2006, testimony of Karen Narasaki President & Executive Director, Asian American Justice Center, on Section 203, the language assistance provisions of the VRA, and H.R. 9, before the Constitution Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee. ... READ MORE >>


May 4, 2006, Testimony of Rena Comisac on Section 203.
May 4, 2006, testimony of Rena Comisac, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division, Department of Justice, on Section 203, the language assistance provisions of the VRA, and H.R. 9, before the Constitution Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee. ... READ MORE >>


May 4, 2006, Testimony of Roger Clegg on H.R. 9.
May 4, 2006, testimony of Roger Clegg, Vice President & General Counsel, Center for Equal Opportunity, on H.R. 9, before the Constitution Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee. ... READ MORE >>


May 6, 2006, Testimony of Laughlin McDonald on Section 5
May 6, 2006, Testimony of ACLU Voting Rights Project Director Laughlin McDonald on Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act before the Senate Judiciary Committee. ... READ MORE >>



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VRA Renewal - Reports Documenting Voting Discrimination
1982 Report Documents 10 Years of ACLU Voting Rights Litigation
"10 Years of Litigation in the South" documents the litigation work of the ACLU Voting Rights Project from 1972 to 1982, leading up to the last reauthorization of the expiring provisions of the VRA. ... READ MORE >>


ACLU Litigation Report Documents 293 ACLU Voting Rights Cases Since 1982
The ACLU's comprehensive litigation report documents 293 voting rights cases brought in 31 states by the ACLU since 1982. Download this report, here ... READ MORE >>


ACLU Washington Legislative Office Issues Policy Report on VRA Renewal
Download, "Promises to Keep: The Impact of the Voting Rights Act in 2006," here. The report details the practical effects of the Voting Rights Act and discusses the impact of the law in eliminating discrimination and granting access to the ballot box for minorities... ... READ MORE >>


Lawyers' Committee Report Details Need for VRA Renewal
In February 2006, The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law announced the release of its report of the National Commission on the Voting Rights Act, "Protecting Minority Voters: The Voting Rights Act, 1982-2005." ... READ MORE >>


The VRA Today: Why America Still Needs the Voting Rights Act
Download this 23-page booklet written by Caroline Fredrickson, Director, ACLU Washington Legislative Office and Deborah J. Vagins, Policy Counsel for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. ... READ MORE >>


Warren Institute Report on VRA Reauthorization
Download and read the Warren Institute's Report on "Voting Rights Act Reauthorization: Research-Based Recommendations to Improve Voting Access." ... READ MORE >>



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VRA Renewal - Resolutions and Declarations in Support of VRA Renewal
AFL-CIO Executive Committee Resolution
Download and read the AFL-CIO Executive Committee Resolution of March 3, 2005, in support of renewal of the expiring provisions of the Voting Rights Act... ... READ MORE >>


California State Assembly Endorses VRA Renewal
On Thursday, May 25, California Assembly Joint Resolution 37 (Ridley-Thomas),passed the California State Legislature. AJR 37 calls on Congress and the President of the United States to extend the Voting Rights Act of 1965. ... READ MORE >>


Des Moines City Council Endorses VRA Renewal
On June 5, 2006, the Des Moines, Iowa, City Council unanimously adopted a resolution endorsing Congressional renewal of the expiring provisions of the Voting Rights Act. ... READ MORE >>


Illinois House of Representatives Calls for VRA Renewal
On February 23, 2006, the Illinois House of Representatives passed HR 801, urging Congress to renew the expiring provisions of the VRA. ... READ MORE >>


Massachusetts Asian American Voting Advocates & Allies Urge Congressional Support for VRA Renewal
The Asian American Legal Defense & Educational Fund organized a variety of Massachusetts Asian American, Latino, civil rights and voter engagement groups to co-sign a letter to U.S. Senators Kennedy, Kerry, Specter (PA) and Leahy (VT) and each of the Members of the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation to support the reauthorization and expansion of the federal Voting Rights Act, both in its provisions for language assistance (Section 203) and enforcement (Section 5). ... READ MORE >>


Monterey County California Endorses VRA Renewal
On May 2, 2006, the Monterey County (Calif.) board of supervisors unanimously approved a motion to endorse renewal of the expiring provisions of the landmark 1965 Voting Rights Act... ... READ MORE >>


National Black Caucus of State Legislators Endorses VRA Renewal
The National Black Caucus of State Legislators has endorsed VRA renewal. ... READ MORE >>


Newark, NJ, Endorses VRA Renewal
On February 1, 2006, the Newark (NJ) Municipal Council adopted a formal resolution supporting the “reauthorization and renewal of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.” ... READ MORE >>


Prominent Republicans Favor VRA Renewal
The Voting Rights Act and VRA Renewal have received strong bi-partisan support in Congress. The attached document summarizes some key statements and remarks made by prominent Republicans in favor of the Voting Rights Act and VRA renewal. The list includes remarks from the following individuals and the corresponding sources for ... READ MORE >>


Religious, Civil and Voting Rights Groups Challenge Southern Lawmakers Who Oppose VRA Renewal
On Thursday, June 29, the Rev. Timothy McDonald, the chair of People For the American Way’s African American Ministers in Action led a delegation of activists and organizations to Rep. Lynn Westmoreland’s District office in Newnan, Georgia. The delegation delivered a letter signed by Rev. McDonald, Charles Steele, president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and Daniel Levitas of the ACLU. ... READ MORE >>


Second Illinois House of Representatives Resolution on VRA Renewal
Illinois House Resolution 984, sponsored by State Representative Monique Davis - a member of the Illinois Black Caucus - passed the State Elections and Campaign Reform Committee unanimously on March 24, 2006, and is expected to pass the full House. The measure urges Congress to renew the expiring provisions of the Voting Rights Act... ... READ MORE >>


The National Congress of American Indians Declares Support for VRA Renewal
Download and view this 2005 resolution of the National Congress of American Indians in favor of VRA Renewal... ... READ MORE >>


United University Professions Union Endorses VRA Renewal
Download and read the resolution of the United University Professions Union ("the nation's largest higher education union") in support of VRA Renewal... ... READ MORE >>


Wisconsin State Representatives Urge VRA Renewal
In an April 7, 2006, letter to Wisconsin's 10-member U.S. Congressional Delegation, which includes House Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner, 18 members of the Wisconsin legislature called on the congressional delegation to renew the expiring provisions of the landmark 1965 Voting Rights Act. ... READ MORE >>



Report discriminatory voting practices toll-free! Contact the Voting Section of the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division at 800-253-3931.

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Voting Rights Act Renewal Legislation Passes U.S. Senate 98-0! Tremendous Victory for Voting Rights Advocates & All Americans. Legislation Renews VRA Provisions for 25 Years. Bush signs VRA into law!


Click here for information detailing which states are impacted by the expiring provisions of the Voting Rights Act
ACLU Applauds Introduction of Voting Rights Act Reauthorization Legislation MORE VRA NEWS »

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To contact the ACLU Voting Rights Project contact: vrpaclu@aol.com