[EL] Against a "Post-Racial" Voting Rights Act

[Spencer Overton]

*Click here<http://prospect.org/article/against-post-racial-voting-rights-act>
for
my recent piece in The American Prospect, Against a "Post-Racial" Voting
Rights Act<http://prospect.org/article/against-post-racial-voting-rights-act>.
 A summary:*

Some have used the debate about updating the Voting Rights Act as an
opportunity to argue that Congress should “look beyond” measures that
prevent race discrimination and should instead enact race-neutral general
election reform (e.g., shorter lines, easier registration, less-restrictive
ID).

They are wrong.  Discrimination persists, and general election reform would
fail to stop much of it—especially in local elections.  An election reform
bill would also polarize the debate in Congress, and undermine any chance
for bipartisan consensus in updating the Voting Rights Act.  I personally
support election reforms that expand access--and they should be pushed in
state legislatures.  For now, however, Congress should focus on preventing
voting discrimination in updating the Voting Rights Act—not general
election reforms.

-- 

Spencer Overton <http://spenceroverton.com/>
Professor of Law
Director, GW Political Law Studies
Initiative<http://www.law.gwu.edu/Academics/research_centers/politicallaw/Pages/AboutPLSI.aspx>
Stealing Democracy <http://www.stealingdemocracy.com/excerpts.cfm>
(book), Discrimination
in Covered States<http://www.scotusblog.com/2013/02/shelby-county-v-holder-voting-discrimination-remains-concentrated-in-covered-states/>
, Racial Entitlement<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/spencer-overton/voting-rights-act-supreme-court_b_2780810.html>,
The Other Voting
Case<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/spencer-overton/arizona-voting-supreme-court_b_2895728.html>
 (commentaries)
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