Obama says biggest harm to voting rights today is apathy

Considered as among the most far-reaching pieces of civil rights legislation in U.S. History, the VRA aimed to overcome legal barriers at state and local levels that prevented African Americans from exercising their right to vote under the 15th Amendment.

As the Voting Rights Act turns 50 and in the face of renewed efforts across the country to restrict voting, President Barack Obama called on Congress today to restore the Act to its fullest, saying that we need “to ensure every American has equal access to the polls”.

Commissioners Nancy Quarles, Janet Jackson and David Bowman are sponsoring the special commemorative resolution which will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act.

She was referring to the fact that even after the district court ruled against the Texas ID law, it has remained in force for four statewide elections.

AP In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson urged the passing of the Voting Rights Act during a joint session of Congress.

In the LGBT community, LGBT people of color, LGBT youth, and transgender Americans are the most affected by a weakened voting rights law.

Some of the changes to the Voting Rights Act that have taken place in recent years, the president said, appear neutral on the surface but have the affect of discouraging people from voting. Republicans in support of greater voter restrictions argue that such laws help reduce voter fraud, but Democrats view such measures as unnecessary and restrictive towards minorities. But, in 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court struck that part of the federal Voting Rights Act in a 5-4 decision. After leaving the White House, King said, “We’ve got to get this president some power”, Young recalled, laughing.

“We will not, and we shall not, stop until victory is won”, Sweet-Love said.

“Fifty years since passage of the VRA, it remains clear that the struggle for the right to vote is not over”, the Congressional Black Caucus said in an e-mailed statement.

Obama further emphasized that Congress, state legislators, businesses, universities and citizens are all responsible for maintaining and expanding voting rights.

The Legislature passed a law in 2014 that requires changes to the state’s voting laws to be posted on the State Election Commission website to allow for advocates to challenge them, said Brett Bursey, executive director of the South Carolina Progressive Network.