One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

        Scott Lemieux, political science professor at The College of Saint Rose and author for the blog Lawyers, Guns & Money spoke at Muhlenberg College about the significant Supreme Court decision that struck down Section 4 of The Voting Rights Act of 1965. Lemieux focused on the historical significance of the act, while showing he was clearly opposed to the decision and pointed out some of the flaws in Chief Justice John Roberts opinion. Lemieux also noted how this ruling will, and already has, effected state legislature. 

Many of the nine states that were required by this act to have their voting laws approved by the federal government have already taken advantage of the ruling. Voter ID requirements, removal of same-day registration, and other absurd measures have already been passed and will become active throughout the next several years. And so the nation slowly takes steps backward in fighting racism and classism.

Restrictive measures on voting such as the ones now being freely approved and completely unchecked, are merely tools to suppress voters. Though supporters of these laws may claim that they are necessary in weeding out voter fraud, it would be foolish to actually believe these claims have any base whatsoever. These laws are formed as a means of rejecting the voting rights of minorities and/or the poor who would have significant difficulty registering properly and abiding by these oppressive rules.

It’s very interesting to note that the four judges (led by Justice Ginsburg) that dissented against the Chief Justices opinion are the only four judges elected by Democrat presidents in the Supreme Court. Based on the Supreme Court ruling, it is blatantly a issue divided by Republicans and Democrats. 

Republicans are intimidated by the non-white voters that cannot be won over to conservative idealism, and so the only way for them to balance voter-ship is to cut down their numbers. In the process, they are suppressing the basic values of democracy and attempting to faze out demographics. 

Such an infringement on our rights can not go ignored. It’s the obligation of supporters of freedom and democracy to raise awareness to this unruly issue. Lemieux has taken the first step of presenting this issue to college youths; now it is the duty of college youths to speak out.

Kara Brandeisky, Hanqing Chen, and Mike Tigas. “Everything That’s Happen Since Supreme Court Ruled on Voting Rights Act” propublica.org September 18, 2014. Accessed September 20, 2014

Josh Schwartz. “Between The Lines of the Voting Rights Act Opinion” nytimes.com June 25, 2013. Accessed September 18, 2014.