Maloney statement on Supreme Court Voting Rights Act decision

Jun 25, 2013
Press Release

WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) today issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Shelby County v. Holder:

“The most basic element of our republic, the right to vote, must be ensured for all our citizens. The U.S. Supreme Court today weakened that essential right by striking down an integral part of the Voting Rights Act. This unfortunate decision upends decades of efforts to make sure that voting is fair in the parts of our country that have suffered from voting discrimination policies.

“It’s particularly disappointing since the Court itself recognized that voting discrimination still exists, and Act had recently been reauthorized in 2006 with strong bipartisan majorities in the House and Senate.  

“We in Congress must rise to the challenge set by the Court, address the formula they found unconstitutional, and renew our commitment to voting rights and enfranchisement for all.”