Democratic National Committee Celebrates 40th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act

Washington, DC – On the Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act Democratic National Chairman (DNC) Howard Dean issued the following statement:

“Today I join countless Americans in celebrating the anniversary of this historic and watershed legislation. Forty years ago the Voting Rights Act (VRA) was created to ensure African Americans the right to vote without fear of intimidation, suppression, or harassment. Today the VRA’s legacy extends to all Americans regardless of race, or economic status.

“Because of the Voting Rights Act we have 81 members of Congress of African American, Asian, Latino and Native American descent, and thousands of minorities in elected offices around the country. Today we must commit to strengthen and reauthorize those portions of the Voting Rights Act which will expire in 2007 in order to guarantee the voting rights for all in Americans in the future.”