Editorial: Keep "Section 5" of the Voting Rights Act - WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.

Editorial: Keep "Section 5" of the Voting Rights Act

Posted: Updated:
By Collin R. Gaston - bio | email

  • Editorials

  • Thursday, May 16 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-16 23:20:04 GMT
    In my editorial on Tuesday I chided our legislators for being the last state to pass a no-brainer  bill legalizing home brewing.  Today I want to challenge them to be one of the first states to pass another no-brainer;
    In my editorial on Tuesday I chided our legislators for being the last state to pass a no-brainer  bill legalizing home brewing.  Today I want to challenge them to be one of the first states to pass another no-brainer;

  • Tuesday, May 14 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-14 23:20:07 GMT
    Kudos, or perhaps, cheers to the Alabama Legislature for passing HB9, the home brewing bill. Legalized home brewing may not be up there with education reform or prison funding, but it was overdue. 
    Kudos, or perhaps, cheers to the Alabama Legislature for passing HB9, the home brewing bill. Legalized home brewing may not be up there with education reform or prison funding, but it was overdue. 

  • Thursday, May 9 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-09 23:20:06 GMT
    What was the old Pan-Am gas station at the corner of Bibb and Coosa is now no longer.  Last weekend that landmark was demolished with nothing remaining where it once stood other than the outline of a foundation. What
    What was the old Pan-Am gas station at the corner of Bibb and Coosa is now no longer.  Last weekend that landmark was demolished with nothing remaining where it once stood other than the outline of a foundation. What
    •   
MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) -

The Voting Rights Act and Alabama is front and center at the U.S. Supreme Court this week as the Shelby County v. Holder case is heard.  A primary focus of the arguments is Section 5 with debate centering on its continued constitutionality and whether it remains a necessary remedy for discouraging ongoing voting discrimination in our country.

Section 5 of the Act requires all or parts of 16 "covered" states, Alabama being one of them, with a history and contemporary records of voter discrimination to seek approval from the federal government prior to instituting voting changes from moving a polling site to redrawing district maps.

Seven years ago Congress decided to extend the law another 25 years with overwhelming bi-partisan support with near unanimous votes. However, there are some that have questioned whether the vote fully represented House and Senate member's full support or if it is just too politically charged to vote against? 

Regardless of the reasons, there is still evidence that continued voting rights oversight, provided for by this law, must continue. One need look no further than the poster child for this lawsuit, Shelby County, who has had more than 240 discriminatory voting laws blocked by Section 5 objectives alone.  I think that speaks for itself.

Copyright 2013 WSFA 12 News.  All rights reserved.