Voting rights ruling could impact N.C. By Jim Morrill jmorrill@charlotteobserver Posted: Tuesday, Jun. 25, 2013 The U.S. Supreme Court could rule as early as today on a voting rights case that could have far-reaching effects in North Carolina and other states, particularly in the South. The court’s ruling in Shelby County v. Holder could decide the fate of a key provision in the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Section 5 of the law requires federal approval for virtually all voting changes in the state. Under the 1965 law, the Justice Department has to approve, or “pre-clear,” North Carolina’s redistricting plans as well as changes such as the proposed voter ID law. The department approved the state’s current voting district plans in 2011. Those plans, which helped Republicans gain seats in the General Assembly and in the state’s congressional delegation, are being challenged in state court. North Carolina has had a checkered history of redistricting. Since 1981 the Justice Department has rejected plans eight times. Legal challenges delayed state elections in 1998 and 2002. North Carolina’s 12th Congressional District – represented since its creation by Democratic U.S. Rep. Mel Watt of Charlotte — was the subject of four decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court. In his blog for WFAE, Catawba College political scientist Michael Bitzer said if the court strikes down Section 5, more challenges to the district could come about. Morrill: 704-358-5059 Read more here: charlotteobserver/2013/06/25/4126755/voting-rights-ruling-could-impact.html#storylink=cpy
Posted on: Tue, 25 Jun 2013 21:02:37 +0000
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