The Voting Rights Act at 60: Where We Were, Where We Are

August 4, 2025

Sixty years after the signing of the Voting Rights Act (VRA), Black Americans are fighting renewed battles for voting rights amid increasing restrictions. Civil rights advocates, including former NAACP president Cornell William Brooks and current president Derrick Johnson, note that previously settled legal protections are being re-litigated and weakened. Since the Supreme Court gutted a key VRA provision in 2013, states have passed numerous restrictive voting laws, with 19 enacted in 2024 alone according to the Brennan Center for Justice.

Who is affected

Black Americans
Older Black people born in the rural South who may lack birth certificates required for voter ID laws
Voters in majority-Black Congressional districts (affected by an upcoming Supreme Court case)
Young voters like Ryann Dawkins who feel responsible for continuing their ancestors' legacy
Eligible citizens whose voting rights are being restricted

What action is being taken

Civil rights advocates are speaking out about the current voting rights challenges
States are passing restrictive voting laws (19 in 2024 alone)
The Supreme Court is preparing to re-argue a case affecting majority-Black Congressional districts in its next term
Young voters are committing to participate in elections despite obstacles
News organizations (AP, Black News & Views, and The Amsterdam News) are collaborating on inclusive journalism about voting rights

Why it matters

Voting is described as "one of the most important rights afforded to individuals"
Restrictive laws create barriers that particularly impact Black Americans
The current political climate feels dangerous to some Black Americans
The Supreme Court's 2013 decision removed federal oversight of voting changes in jurisdictions with histories of discrimination
Voting rights advocates see this as a reversal of progress made after decades of struggle and protests

What's next

The Supreme Court will re-argue a case affecting majority-Black Congressional districts in its next term starting in October
No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint