BOROUGH PRESIDENT DIAZ, U.S. SENATOR
GILLIBRAND AND OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS URGE CONGRESS TO RESTORE VOTING
RIGHTS ACT THIS YEAR IN WAKE OF SUPREME COURT DECISION THAT GUTTED KEY
PROVISION AT THE VERY HEART OF THE LAW
Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., U.S. Senator
Kristen Gillibrand and other elected officials as well as the Puerto
Rican Bar Association joined together to urge Congressional leaders of
both chambers to pass a bipartisan legislative solution this year to
restore the Voting Rights Act in advance of the upcoming 2014 midterm
elections to protect voters from discrimination and ensure that all
Americans have full and equal access to the ballot box.
This past June, the Supreme Court struck down Section 4 of the Voting
Rights Act, a cornerstone provision that sets the preclearance formula
used to determine which state and local jurisdictions must receive
federal pre-approval before changing their voting laws. With the
dismantling of the Section 4 formula, there is an increased likelihood
of discrimination through redistricting, voting location changes, new
voter ID laws, and reduced early voting periods in many areas of the
country.
The court ruling
removes major federal legal protections for New York City voters – since
1968 The Bronx had been covered jurisdictions under the Voting Rights Act.
It was said that the Bronx is one of 57 counties nationwide that is covered by the Voter Rights Act, and that the New York State legislature will be asked to put a New York State voters Rights Act into place. Senator Gillibrand also called for same day online voter registration.
Left - U.S.Senator Kristen Gillibrand ia speaking as to why the voter Rights Act needs to be fixed.
Right - Bronx BP Ruben Diaz Jr. mentions that the Bronx is one of the 57 counties covered by the Voter rights Act.
Right - Left to Right State Senator Gustave Rivera, Bronx Democratic County Leader Assemblyman Carl Heastie, Congressman Eliot Engel, Bronx BP Ruben Diaz Jr. State Senator Marcos Serrano, Congressman Jose Serrano.
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