SCOTUS Guts Voting Rights: A Very American Tradition
The Hill laments a potential Supreme Court decision striking down what remains of the Voting Rights Act, implying a novel danger. Yet, this is merely another chapter in a long-running saga; the VRA has been under constant assault since its 1965 inception, notably with the Shelby County v. Holder decision in 2013. That ruling, which eliminated the requirement for states with histories of
discrimination to pre-clear voting changes, directly led to a wave of restrictive voting laws. For instance, Texas immediately implemented a strict voter ID law the same day, which a federal court later found to disproportionately affect minority voters. So, when establishment voices wring their hands, one might ask: what exactly is left to 'gut'? It appears this is merely another judicial
affirmation that some votes count more than others—a foundational principle that requires no new legislation, just strategic inaction and selective memory.