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WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, with Congressman David Wu's support, the United States House of Representatives voted to renew the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
"The Voting Rights Act remains a critical tool in ensuring every American is able to cast an informed, meaningful ballot. It is the most successful civil rights law ever passed by Congress," said Congressman Wu. "A vote for the Act is a vote to protect the foundation of our democracy."
For more than 40 years, the Voting Right Act has enforced the U.S. Constitution's 15th Amendment that guarantees every citizen's right to vote will not be denied based on "race, color or previous condition of servitude." The Act became law only after a long history of discrimination. Minorities were systematically denied the right to vote through intimidation, harassment or through policies such as poll fees and literacy tests.
The Act provides the Federal government with the tools to monitor for discriminatory practices that, unfortunately, still arise today and to ensure new election laws do not deny minorities' equal access to the democratic process.
The Act also includes language assistance requirements that help thousands of voters who are illiterate or who use English as a second language to participate effectively in our nation's democratic process.
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