By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell (D) from Selma applauds U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down an Arizona law that required voters show proof of citizenship to register to vote.
Representative Sewell said,
“Today’s Supreme Court ruling marks an important victory for voters in Arizona and those across this nation whose right to vote has been under attack with discriminatory voter identification laws that have been enacted in states like Arizona, Alabama and Georgia. No right is more fundamental to our democracy than our right to vote. The Supreme Court ruled that the current federal law, the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, supersedes Arizona’s overreaching proof of citizenship law and ensured this most basic right is protected.”
Rep. Sewell continued,
“And while we celebrate today’s decision, we must not forget that attempts to disenfranchise voters across this country will continue. I anxiously await the Supreme Court’s ruling on the Shelby County, AL v. Holder case and it is my hope that the court will rule in favor of the preclearance provision of the Voting Rights Act. I remain committed to working with my colleagues and supporting legislation that will help ensure free and fair elections, so that everyone, including students, seniors, minorities and veterans can exercise their constitutional right to vote.”
Shelby County sued the federal government arguing that section five of the Voting Rights Act is an excessive burden on state government.
Section five requires that every redistricting plan in states that the federal government singles out for a history of discrimination has to seek pre-approval from the U.S. Department of Justice. Calera redistricted their town eliminating the only majority minority city council district because they said that it was impossible to create a majority minority districts because Blacks increasingly live in the same neighborhoods as Whites, particularly in new subdivisions annexed into the town. DOJ said that Calera should have asked for approval before annexing any new subdivisions into the city.
Opponents of illegal immigration worry that Monday 7-2 ruling against Arizona will allow more illegal aliens to illegally get on voting rolls.
Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell represents Alabama’s Seventh Congressional District.
