Liberal-leaning organizations in the Sunshine State moved quickly Tuesday to decry the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to declare unconstitutional sections of the 1965 Voting Rights Act that require states and other jurisdictions to get federal preclearance before changing their voting laws.
In their ruling, justices did make it clear that lawmakers have to update the formula for deciding which areas of the country must seek federal approval of their voting laws.
"It should be disturbing to every Florida voter that the Supreme Court seems not to have noticed what happened in Florida over the last two years, where we have battled the Legislature's partisan manipulation of our voting rights," said Deirdre Macnab, president of the League of Women Voters of Florida. "Today's decision undermines 40 years of fundamental protections against discriminatory voting laws and the League urges Congress to act quickly to restore the Voting Rights Act."
Said Howard Simon, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, The ball is now in Congresss court to act as quickly as possible to ensure the federal government has the tools it needs to protect the vote in places -- like Florida -- that have worked so hard to frustrate the fundamental right of their citizens to vote.
Florida New Majority Executive Director Gihan Perera released a statement condemning the decision. That the Supreme Court, by the slimmest of margins, decided to strike down one of the biggest weapons in the fight against institutional racism in this country, is not surprising," said Perera. "However, the fact that Floridas top elections official, Secretary of State Ken Detzner, is elated at this decision should give us all reason to pause."
Detzner did hail the ruling, saying it would make it easier for Florida to change its voting laws. It will streamline the changes made in the elections process and reduce costs, he said. "It will be better without the Department of Justice looking over our shoulder all the time."
Perera's statement had a defiant edge. "Ultimately, democracy is not determined by five men in black robes sitting high in Washington, D.C. It is determined and protected by a movement of free people. So we look forward to using this step backward as a moment to hold our leaders accountable. To do more than just merely 'update' the formula that we all use to ensure that free, fair and accessible elections are more reality than rhetoric."
When the VRA was passed in 1965, the preclearance requirement was set to expire after five years, but had been reauthorized several times since 1970. In 2006, the Act was reauthorized for an additional 25 years, but the preclearance formula was still based on conditions that prevailed in the 1960s and 1970s.
Reach Nancy Smith at nsmith@sunshinestatenews.com or at 228-282-2423.
