The Congressman John Lewis Voting Rights Act

In last week’s Civics 101 column, I wrote about the Voting Rights Act and some of its history. The disturbing thing is that even as we got through this last week of July 5-9, we still keep hearing that certain states are continuing to attempt to turn back the voting rights of certain people.
This week the SCOOP USA Media Community Newspaper continues our effort to educate our readers about our Civic duty as American Citizens. We want to be certain that our readers understand The Congressman John Lewis Voting Rights Act, and the language in it because our voting rights are under attack.
The John Lewis Voting Rights Act proposes legislation that would restore and strengthen parts of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, certain portions of which were struck down by the United States Supreme Court in 2013 by Shelby County v. Holder.
The number of co-sponsors for the John Lewis Voting Rights Act in the U. S. House of Representatives is 229. The number of co-sponsors in the U.S. Senate is 47.
In the House, the legislation has been sponsored by Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D-AL). In the Senate, the legislation has been sponsored by Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and it was enacted by the 116th United States Congress.
As an American citizen, once you become the age of 18, you are supposed to register to vote, and you have the right to vote. However, if the protections of the Voting Rights Act are diminished, our right to vote can be threatened.
The bill was passed in the U.S. House last year (2020). Now it has been reintroduced. All citizens across America that believe in the right to vote need to be writing their Congresspersons, demanding that they take a stand with voters.
Here’s what some of the new wording says in the John Lewis Voting Rights Act:
To amend the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to revise the criteria for determining which States and political subdivisions are subject to section 4 of the Act and for other purposes.
This Act may be cited as the Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019.
Violations triggering the authority of the
court to retain jurisdiction
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10302(c)) is amended by striking violations of the fourteenth or fifteenth amendment, and inserting violations of the 14th or 15th Amendment, violations of this Act, or violations of any Federal law that prohibits discrimination in voting on the basis of race, color, or membership in a language minority group.
Section 3(a) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 10302(a)) is amended by striking violations of the fourteenth or fifteenth amendment, and inserting violations of the 14th or 15th Amendment, violations of this Act, or violations of any Federal law that prohibits discrimination in voting on the basis of race, color, or membership in a language minority group.
Criteria for coverage of States and political
subdivisions: Determination of States and Political Subdivisions Subject to Section 4(a)
In general, Section 4(b) of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10303(b)) is amended to read as follows: Determination of States and Political Subdivisions Subject to Requirements and Existence of voting rights violations during previous 25 years
Final judgment: Violation of the 14th or 15th Amendment.
In a final judgment (which has not been reversed on appeal), any court of the United States has determined that a denial or abridgment of the right of any citizen of the United States to vote on account of race, color, or membership in a language minority group, in violation of the 14th or 15th Amendment, occurred anywhere within the State or subdivision.
Also, in a final judgment (which has not been reversed on appeal), any court of the United States has determined that a voting qualification or prerequisite to voting or standard, practice, or procedure with respect to voting was imposed or applied or would have been imposed or applied anywhere within the State or subdivision in a manner that resulted or would have resulted in a denial or abridgment of the right of any citizen of the United States to vote on account of race, color, or membership in a language minority group, in violation of subsection (e) or (f), or section 2 or 203 of this Act. And the language in the new bill goes on and on for another few pages in the document that’s available online.
What I have found is that legislation and Bills that lawmakers come up with, often sound very much like attorneys speaking in legal terminology. Nonetheless, I want our readers to get a sense of what the actual language is like in the new John Lewis Voting Rights Legislation.
What I have shared in today’s column is not the full copy of the legislation. Unless you’re used to this kind of language, it’s a difficult read. For a full copy, log on at www.Govtrack.us/congress/bills/116/hr4/text. Keep your ear to the ground on Voting Rights. If certain people in this country were to have their way, people of color wouldn’t be voting at all.