The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that states can no longer be judged by voting discrimination that went on decades ago, in a decision that marks the end of a major civil-rights era reform.
The 5-4 ruling rewrites a key tool of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which for five decades has given the federal government unprecedented say in everything from how some states draw their congressional maps to where they place polling locations.
But the justices said after five decades, the law has had a dramatic effect in ending discrimination in voting, and said Congress must now come up with new ways of deciding who still needs federal oversight.
Beneath the legal ruling is a broader social statement, with the justices saying that a state cannot be perpetually held responsible for past discrimination if there’s no evidence that it still exists.
Source: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jun/25/court-past-voting-discrimination-no-longer-held/?page=all
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So, the SCOTUS struck down parts of the 1965 Voting Rights Act because they were giving the Feds power over polling places in some areas. The Feds were given that power in the Act because of discrimination that happened decades ago.
On one hand, I'm happy that the Feds have less power (certainly a welcome change considering what's been going on with them since 9/11...) and that the power is now in the hands of the States where it belongs.
On the other hand, I am concerned about a few rural counties in certain states where there are still a lot of 'old-fashioned' attitudes about minorities and whether or not they should be treated as equals. Either way, at least Uncle Sam doesn't have his fist up the States' collective asses on this issue anymore. It should be a step in the right direction.
- Lord Publius
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