DNC Affirms Re-Authorization of VRA
The following resolution was passed by the Democratic National Committee at its meeting on August 19, 2006.
Submitted by:
Donna Brazile, At-Large/DC
Lottie Shackelford, DNC Vice Chair/Arkansas
Steven K. Alari, California
Mark Bryant, Missouri
Yolanda Caraway, At-Large/DC
Renee Gill Pratt, Louisiana
Ben L. Jeffers, Louisiana
Betty McElderry, Oklahoma
James K. Metcalfe, Chair, Alaska
Resolution affirming the Re-Authorization of the 1965 Voting Rights Act and calling for further election reform
WHEREAS, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act on August 6, 1965 which prohibited the denial or abridgement of the right to vote, thereby eliminating literacy tests and other means of disenfranchising African Americans and other minority voters, and imposed special enforcement provisions targeting those states which had imposed discriminatory policies and practices; and
WHEREAS, prior to the passage of this Act, only 1/3rd of all African Americans of voting age were registered to vote, as many were disenfranchised from the political process by illegal means such as literacy tests and poll taxes; and
WHEREAS, three key provisions of this Act had been due to expire in 2007, unless reauthorized by Congress: Pre-clearance, Federal Examiners and Observers and Bi-lingual assistance, which are critical to the enforcement of this Act; and
WHEREAS, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) worked closely with members of the House and Senate Democratic Caucus, including the Congressional Black Caucus and Congressional Hispanic Caucus, to reauthorize not only the three provisions, but to work to strengthen the Voting Rights Act's enforcement; and
WHEREAS, Congress duly adopted the Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006 and with the exception of replacing Federal Examiners with Observers, reauthorized and strengthened key provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that were due to expire next year; and
WHEREAS, President George W. Bush signed the landmark civil rights legislation on July 27, 2006 and pledged that his administration will “vigorously enforce the provisions of this law, and …will defend it in court;” and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Supreme Court (LULAC vs. PERRY) continues to struggle with interpretation of the minority anti-dilution provisions of the Voting Rights Act so as to effectively restrain or enjoin the power of state legislative majorities to redraw congressional boundaries for the express purpose of protecting that party’s Members; and
WHEREAS, it is clear that Congress has a continuing duty to adopt regulations that will clarify and successfully enforce the prohibition against redistricting practices and procedures that “have the effect of diminishing the ability of any citizens of the United States on account of race or color, or in contravention of the guarantees…to elect their preferred candidates of choice….” [Section 5(3)(b) of the Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006]; and
WHEREAS, some state officials continue to disenfranchise validly registered voters by implementing defective and flawed statewide voter lists that are mandated under the “Help America Vote Act of 2002 or “H.A.V.A.,” but not uniformly regulated so as to ensure that registered voters are readily identifiable;
WHEREAS, the DNC will work with its state parties and local affiliates to encourage citizens to monitor and call attention to any acts of voter intimidation, voter suppression or voter fraud; and
WHEREAS, the DNC will work to ensure that no citizen’s right to vote and have that vote counted will be abridged and toward that end will put in place programs to protect the ballot in the November 2006 elections;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the DNC applauds and affirms the passage and enactment of the Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the DNC will continue to monitor the enforcement of the Voting Rights Act and will urge Congress to hold hearings to ensure this important piece of legislation is being properly enforced; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the DNC will continue to work with Members of Congress as well as state and local officials, to enact legislation that will ensure responsible redistricting laws and regulations; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the DNC will work with Members of Congress to adopt legislation and regulations which will prevent abuse under H.A.V.A. and ensure uniform standards for state voter lists and mandatory verified voter trails and back-up audits for use with electronic voting machines; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Democratic National Committee will continue its resolve to work with Members of Congress, lawmakers in all 50 United States, the District of Columbia, and all U.S. Territories, local election officials, and community leaders to update and reform our election laws to ensure that voter confidence in our election system is restored and maintained.
