Modernizing the Voting Rights Act
Today, the House is debating the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act. I absolutely support the goals of the VRA – which is why I believe we need to modernize it so it applies to all states, wherever voter disenfranchisement occurs.
It might surprise you to know that right now, the Voting Rights Act covers states based on election data from 1964. That’s right – data from the Johnson/Goldwater election.
I strongly support an amendment by my Georgia colleague Charlie Norwood that would use the most recent election data – not data that is 40 years old – in determining which states fall under the “pre-clearance” section of the VRA. This is a common sense modernization for an important piece of legislation.
Click here to read my statement before Congress on this important issue, and here to watch a video of my speech.
You can also read my column on modernizing the VRA here on the Marietta Daily Journal’s website.
July 13th, 2006 at 2:10 pm
“Modernizing” it, eh? The reason that it is based on 1964 data, is that in 1964, left to its own devices, the Great State of Georgia RAMPANTLY DISCRIMINATED against minorities. After being FORCED by FEDERAL LAW to stop such practices, the Great State of Georgia has a pretty good record of not lynching blacks on their way to cast ballots. So now you want to rescind the law because…..WHY? I dont get it. The law works. No matter what Hitlerian doublespeak you use, protecting minorities’ right to vote is NOT an antiquated notion. You FOOL.
July 13th, 2006 at 3:11 pm
I agree with your position, Rep. Gingrey. I’m okay with the VRA if it applies to all states equally. However, singling out specific Southern states based on data from 1964 is a joke. Either apply the Act equally to all states or don’t apply it at all. Racism or voter discrimination is not exclusive to Southern states (to the extent that it exists at all). You don’t have to be a genius to realize that.