August 6, 2015 marks the 50th anniversary of the passage of the Voting Rights Act (VRA). This landmark civil rights legislation has protected voters from discrimination for nearly half a century. The VRA is one of the most significant laws ever passed by Congress and it changed America.
In Oregon we can be fairly complacent about equal access to the ballot, but that is not the case in other parts of the country. Unfortunately, the Voting Rights Act does not offer the same protections it did in 1965. Two years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court gutted key provisions of the VRA in its Shelby County v. Holder decision, weakening vital voter protections. Since then Congress has failed to repair that damage. As a result, voter discrimination at ballot boxes across the nation has become more pronounced.
Every eligible American voter deserves to be treated fairly and have free and equal access to the ballot. The League of Women Voters has fought against discrimination and for voting rights protections for 95 years, and restoring the VRA is an important step to keep our elections fair, free and accessible.
Linda Lynch, President, LWV of Lane County