STATEMENT FROM LAURIE CUMBO 35TH DISTRICT CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE Troubled by the Supreme Court’s Voting Rights Act Ruling

STATEMENT FROM LAURIE CUMBO 35TH DISTRICT CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE

Troubled by the Supreme Court’s Voting Rights Act Ruling

“I am extremely anxious about the future of minorities’ electoral prospects, after today’s Supreme Court decision regarding the constitutionality of the Voting Rights Act,” Laurie Cumbo, candidate for the 35th District City Council seat said. “After centuries of discrimination based on the color of our skin, African-Americans are still struggling to gain full equality. I recognize the many advances that have been made over the last few decades in regards to desegregation; however there is still too much evidence that we have not come far enough. Upholding only parts of the Voting Rights Act and striking down others, proves that America has still not grasped the fact that prejudice continues to be a problem in our country every day. Congress has ultimately been given the responsibility to determine which states fall under the jurisdiction of the Voting Rights Act, which seems like an opportunity for sustained discrimination should they fail to come to an agreement. As a result, too many citizens will likely be denied the chance to exercise one of their essential democratic privileges: their right to vote. I am thoroughly troubled by today’s Supreme Court ruling, and I am calling on my representatives to speak out against its decision and work toward true change. Martin Luther King Jr. and Medgar Evers fought for us to have the right to vote and today’s decision threatens that.”

In Shelby County v. Holder, the Supreme Court decided 5-4 that Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act is unconstitutional. Section 4 contains the formula used by Congress to determine which areas of the United States require federal oversight in their elections based on a history of racial discrimination at the voting booth. The Court upheld Section 5, which requires these counties with a history of electoral discrimination receive “preclearance” from the federal government before making any changes to their election laws. However, without the formula in Section 4, Congress no longer has a way of determining which counties to oversee. Until Congress passes a new formula, Shelby County and other areas affected by the Voting Rights Act no longer have to gain preclearance in order to make changes to their election laws and procedures.