Legal Groups Consider Appeal After Court Ruling Undermines Voter Rights
Legal advocates are contemplating an appeal following a ruling from the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals that has raised alarms about the Voting Rights Act’s effectiveness in several states, including North Dakota. The court’s decision limits the ability of voters to sue over racial discrimination in local and state election policies. This ruling follows a recent victory in redistricting for Native American tribes in North Dakota, serving as the backdrop for this contentious legal interpretation.
Mark Gaber, senior director of redistricting for the Campaign Legal Center, expressed his disbelief, stating that this ruling marks an unprecedented move in voting rights litigation. According to Gaber, the court determined that Section Two of the Voting Rights Act does not grant individuals the authority to initiate lawsuits, a position contrary to decades of legal precedent.
The implications of this ruling are considerable, especially for voters in the seven states under the 8th Circuit’s jurisdiction, who may now need to rely on the Justice Department to take action on discriminatory practices. However, Gaber noted that the department is ill-equipped to respond quickly to such requests due to budget cuts. The Native American Rights Fund has also condemned the decision as a dangerous precedent that threatens minority voters’ voices.
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