Senator Chuck Grassley, Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, made the following statement after the Supreme Court called unconstitutional a section of the Voting Rights Act that uses a formula to decide what states and jurisdictions are required to gain approval from the federal government before any changes can be made to the jurisdiction’s voting laws or procedures. The Supreme Court did not say that preclearance was unconstitutional, the court said that only the formula used to determine the need for preclearance had to be changed and could be addressed by Congress. Grassley voted for the Voting Rights Act both times Congress has considered reauthorization in 1982 and 2006.
“Since 1965 the Voting Rights Act has been the guiding law to guarantee that all citizens have the same opportunity to participate in the political process. That right is just as important today as it was in 1982 and in 2006 when we reauthorized the law. The Supreme Court’s decision today still protects both the anti-discrimination provisions of this law and the Tenth Amendment. Most importantly, the Supreme Court ensured that discrimination remains unlawful, but, the court said that preclearance of voting changes cannot be based on election laws and voter registration and turnout as they existed in the 1960s and early 1970s. No longer will any Justice Department be able to misuse the Voting Rights Act concerning such common sense measures as voter identification laws. I’m open to looking at ways to address the issues addressed in the court’s decision. The opportunity to vote is one of the most fundamental rights afforded to American citizens. And, as protectors of the Constitution, Congress must defend that right.”