U.S. Supreme Court Preserves Integrity of Voting Rights Act - Jewish Group With Long History of Advocating for Civil Rights Welcomes Decision
05:42 PM Jun 22, 2009
WASHINGTON -The Jewish Council for Public Affairs welcomed the Supreme Court ruling in Northwest Austin Municipal Utility District Number One v. Eric Holder, Jr, Attorney General, preserving an important section of the Voting Rights Act that requires federal preclearance before voting rules can be changed.
Andrea Weinstein and Rabbi Steve Gutow, the chair and president, respectively, of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, issued the following statement on today's decision:
"The JCPA believes that maintaining a government that is responsive to the needs and aspirations of its people is only possible through citizen participation in the electoral process. No citizen should have to navigate hurdles to cast a ballot. Despite significant changes that have occurred since the adoption of the Voting Rights Act, we continue to see efforts to hinder minority voting. Since these efforts continue, so must meaningful federal oversight of voting rules. The Voting Rights Act has been an effective and potent tool in preventing discriminatory practices from being adopted."
JCPA, the public affairs arm of the organized Jewish community, serves as the national coordinating and advisory body for the 14 national and 125 local agencies comprising the field of Jewish community relations.
