The Unfinished March: The Struggle To Preserve Voting Rights

August 6, 2025

of "The Battle for the Ballot: 60 Years After the Voting Rights Act" The Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA) was a landmark legislation that aimed to end voting discrimination against Black Americans, particularly in the South, by eliminating barriers like literacy tests and poll taxes. Despite initial success in increasing Black voter registration and political representation, the VRA has faced significant challenges, most notably in 2013 when the Supreme Court struck down key provisions in Shelby County v. Holder, effectively eliminating the federal preclearance requirement for states with histories of discrimination.

Who is affected

Black Americans and other marginalized voting groups
Residents of states previously covered by Section 5 preclearance requirements
Non-English speakers previously protected by Section 203
Local Black communities that benefited from increased political representation
Voters in areas where new restrictive voting laws have been implemented since 2013
The broader American democratic system and multiracial democracy

What action is being taken

Civil rights organizations are advocating for the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to restore protections
Legal challenges to discriminatory voting practices continue under the remaining provisions of the VRA
Some states are implementing new restrictive voting laws following the Shelby County decision
The current administration has reduced enforcement of remaining VRA provisions and other voting rights laws
Section 2 of the VRA is still being used in "vote dilution" cases challenging at-large voting systems and redistricting plans

Why it matters

The VRA's weakening threatens the progress made in ensuring equal voting rights and representation for Black Americans. Since the 2013 Shelby County decision, the racial turnout gap between white and non-white voters has been steadily increasing, particularly in regions formerly protected by Section 5. The VRA historically led to significant improvements in Black communities' quality of life through increased representation, with public infrastructure spending in Black neighborhoods throughout the South doubling between 1962 and 1980. As Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg noted in her dissent, the continued consequences of racial voter suppression represent a threat to democracy itself.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

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