Even the States That Passed Their Own Voting Rights Acts Need to Watch Their Backs

"“The Voting Rights Act forbids enforcing election procedures enacted with a racial intent or that results in a denial, or abridgment, of the right of any citizen of the United States to vote on account of race,” the complaint said. “The Illinois Voting Rights Act requires drawing district lines to preserve deliberate racial percentages, racial majorities, and the deliberate preservation of racial influence districts. This violates the Constitution and the Voting Rights Act.”"

"Illinois' law requires the creation of crossover districts (where minority groups have at least a chance of electing their preferred candidate with crossover support from members of the majority group), coalition districts (multiple minority groups voting the same way) and influence districts (where minority voters may not have enough power to elect their chosen candidate, but can influence the election). Expect a flood of these lawsuits targeting the parts of these state laws explicitly seeking to protect minority voters."

"“The Voting Rights Act forbids enforcing election procedures enacted with a racial intent or that results in a denial, or abridgment, of the right of any citizen of the United States to vote on account of race,” the complaint said. “The Illinois Voting Rights Act requires drawing district lines to preserve deliberate racial percentages, racial majorities, and the deliberate preservation of racial influence districts. This violates the Constitution and the Voting Rights Act.”"

Illinois passed a state Voting Rights Act after the federal Voting Rights Act’s coverage ended. A group known for lawsuits seeking to remove voters from registration challenged Illinois’ Voting Rights Act. The complaint alleges that the Voting Rights Act bars enforcing election procedures enacted with racial intent or that deny or abridge voting rights on account of race. The complaint claims Illinois requires district lines that preserve deliberate racial percentages, racial majorities, and influence districts, violating the Constitution and the Voting Rights Act. Illinois’ law requires crossover districts, coalition districts, and influence districts. Additional state voting rights statutes exist or are being considered in other states.

Read at Esquire