Peters Cosponsors Voting Rights Advancement Act

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today announced that he has cosponsored the Voting Rights Advancement Act, legislation to strengthen voter protections in the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The legislation is in response to a 2013 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that weakened federal voting protections in jurisdictions that have a history of voter suppression.

“The right to vote is the core of our democracy, and every American has the right to make their voices heard at the ballot box,” said Senator Peters. “Unfortunately, we’ve seen efforts across the country, including in Michigan, to restrict voter access. We must remain constantly vigilant against these attempts, and this legislation will put back into place critical protections to support the bedrock of our democratic institutions.”

Prior to the Voting Rights Act of 1965, many states and local governments used tactics aimed at discrimination and suppressing the vote. These tactics included reductions in polling locations in areas that are racially, ethnically, or linguistically diverse, reductions in language assistance and changes in documentation or requirements to vote or register. Section 4(b) of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 established a formula to identify state and local governments that used these tactics and were subject to pre-clearance requiring federal approval before implementing any electoral changes. In 2013, the Supreme Court struck down Section 4(b) in Shelby County v. Holder, ruling the formula used was outdated and required Congressional updating.

The Voting Rights Advancement Act, which would create a new pre-clearance formula for state and local governments, has the support of a number organizations, including the NAACP, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights (LCCHR), National Action Network and the ACLU.