Tagged: voting rights act

12:23pm

Mon March 18, 2013
2013 Legislative Sesssion

Bill Would Change Rules for Non-English Mail-In Ballots

Credit flickr.com/miikka_skaffari

Lawmakers are looking at a bill today that would change the requirements for mail-in ballots in Harris County. The county would no longer need to send out ballots in a language other than English, unless it’s requested by the voter.

The Harris County clerk says it costs a lot to print and send mail-in ballots to eligible voters. That’s because the county must print ballots in four languages: English, Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese.

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10:27am

Wed February 27, 2013
Politics

Supreme Court Weighs Future of Voting Rights Act

Originally published on Wed February 27, 2013 7:48 am

Credit Carolyn Kaster / AP

Once again, race is front and center at the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday. And once again, the bull's eye is the 1965 Voting Rights Act, widely viewed as the most effective and successful civil rights legislation in American history. Upheld five times by the court, the law now appears to be on life support.

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5:12pm

Tue February 26, 2013
Politics

Has the U.S. Outgrown the Voting Rights Act?

Originally published on Tue February 26, 2013 4:47 pm

Credit Richard Ellis / Getty Images

The nation has twice elected an African-American president.

Black voters have been turning out for general elections in rates that for the first time in U.S. history rival those of whites.

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6:45pm

Mon February 25, 2013
Politics

Texas Minority Lawmakers: Keep Voting Rights Act

Credit Bobby Blanchard

Representatives from minority groups are asking Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott to stop fighting Section Five of the Voting Rights Act.

This Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on the Shelby County v. Holder case, which challenges Section Five of the Voting Rights Act. That's the part of the act that requires federal approval of any changes to voting requirements.

While the Shelby County v. Holder case originated in Alabama, Texas State Representative Trey Martinez Fisher said this case resembles Texas cases that might be heard by the Supreme Court. Abbott's appeal of a decision that deeming Texas’ new redistricting maps discriminatory also challenges Section Five.

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