Subject: RE: jurisdiction if VRA section 5 constitutionalityis challenged
From: Kahlil Charles Williams
Date: 7/27/2006, 12:16 PM
To: "Pitts, Michael Jude" <mjpitts@iupui.edu>
CC: Brian Landsberg <blandsberg@pacific.edu>, Rick.Hasen@lls.edu, election-law@majordomo.lls.edu

Nate and Michael are right about this, and this is a discussion that the
Judiciary committee folks are already having. It is my understanding that some
of the staffers would prefer the Act to take effect next year (and will cite
the members references to 2031 during floor debate as evidence), but a literal
reading of this, merging the VRARA language with the relevant statutes (Pub. L.
97-205 and 42 U.S.C. 1973) would result in the immediate 25 year extension of
Section 5, et. al., to July 2031 and, technically a 26 year extension of
Section 203 to 2032.

I think we have yet to hear the end of this issue.




-- 
Kahlil C. Williams
Ph.D Candidate, Political Science
University of Pennsylvania