Jackson Free Press

A county in Alabama is challenging a component of the Voting Rights Act that keeps a watchful eye on states with a history of civil rights abuses, the Associated Press reports.

Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act requires certain states, counties and townships--most of them in the South--to clear any changes to voting procedures with a federal court or the U.S. Department of Justice. The AP reports that Congress renewed Section 5 in 2006 after finding that discrimination still exists in those areas, but an attorney for the Alabama county argued that those who discriminated against black voters in the 1960s are no longer in charge. "The South has changed," he said.

While judges so far seem skeptical of arguments for doing away with Section 5, any changes to the Voting Rights Act's preclearance requirement could affect Mississippi's voter ID amendment since the state is covered under Section 5. Last month, the DOJ rejected South Carolina's voter ID law, saying it discriminated against minority voters.

Read more about Mississippi's historical and more recent cases of voter discrimination in the archives:
Voting Long Under Fire
Voter ID: Excessive Regulation?

Previous Commentsshow

Changed what, Generals? Barack Obama's becoming the POTUS reinvigorated the confederacy with expansion to other areas. Too many Northerners can't fake the funk anymore either. And many persons from East and West enlisted to serve too. Holler if you hear me now!

Walt

Jan 20 2012

I hear ya! Seeds of hatred and bigotry are being planted every day. Even a Jewish newspaper out of Atlanta is printing threats against the President.

833WMaple

Jan 23 2012