Strengthen voting rights measure

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A little more than a year ago, the United States Supreme Court struck a blow against voting rights. 

Its decision in Shelby County v. Holder opened the door for states to pass discriminatory laws suppressing voting, especially among young voters and minorities.

Somehow, the conservative majority concluded, in a 5-4 decision, that times had changed enough that special scrutiny of offending states and counties was no longer necessary. 

This is particularly troublesome since the ruling came down in the midst of an orgy of voter suppression.

Over the past two years, according to www.fairelectionsnetwork.com, more than 30 states have introduced legislation or enacted laws that would do just that. 

The organization — dedicated to battling the restrictions — points out that some states, such as Florida and Ohio, have dramatically shortened early voting opportunities, including the weekend before Election Day when many minority voters choose to vote. 

Florida and Texas both passed legislation to make it harder for volunteer organizations like the League of Women Voters to register voters. 

Since 2011, ten states have joined Indiana and Georgia to require voters to show a photo ID to vote. 

Several others are considering photo ID legislation. Additionally, some states, including Kansas, are requiring citizens show proof of citizenship to register to vote.

It is no surprise that a solid bloc of states with Republican-controlled legislatures across the south have passed such legislation.

Although the court ruled against just one section of the law, it had been pivotal since 1965 in protecting voters rights, especially in states that had had abysmal records with racial discriminaton. 

Now Rep. Eliot Engel is trying to take a small step toward reversing the damage by co-sponsoring the Voter Empowerment Act of 2013. Among its provisions is a requirement for states to offer online voter registration.

Given the recalcitrance of the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, even that small measure faces an uphill battle for passage.

Times have indeed changed. In 1965, President Lyndon Johnson was able to break the back of Dixiecrat opposition to civil rights legislation by appealing across the aisle to Republican congressmen and senators, reminding them of their heritage as the party of Lincoln.

Today, the Republicans are still in the throes of a southern strategy first enunciated by Richard M. Nixon, and Barack Obama is no Lyndon Johnson.

Mr. Engel is right to keep the issue of voting rights in the public eye, but he has nothing to lose by introducing far stronger legislation than the Voter Empowerment Act. He should settle for nothing less than reinstituting the full protections of the Voting Rights Act. 

While he’s at it, maybe he can do something about instituting early voting right here in New York. Our legislature never took it away from us; they never bothered to give it us in the first place.

voting rights, Shelby County v. Holder, civil rights act, voter suppression, Eliot Engel

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