Voting Rights Proposals Are Pending in D.C., Supreme Court and Congress

WASHINGTON -- Voting rights issues are pending before the District of Columbia Council, the Supreme Court and Congress this week as a response to turmoil over election laws kicked up by former President Donald Trump.

Last week, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments over Voting Rights Act provisions that could make it harder for minority voters to challenge state laws they say reflect gerrymandering.

Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act bans voting regulations that allow racial discrimination to interfere with the right to vote, such as through gerrymandering.

Liberals challenged Alabama’s congressional map under Section 2 after it resulted in only one majority Black district despite a state population that is 27 percent Black.

Attorneys for the state argued the voting district map could be invalidated only if evidence proved the lawmakers who drew the map intended to discriminate. The plaintiffs argue the intent of the lawmakers is irrelevant if the map results in discrimination.

The D.C. Council was seeking to broaden rather than restrict voting rights when a committee unanimously approved a bill to allow non-citizens to vote in local elections.

It would include illegal immigrants and legal permanent residents. One in seven D.C. residents is an immigrant, according to the American Immigration Council.

Supporters of the “Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022” say the non-citizen residents should have a right to vote because they pay taxes and are affected by local policies.

The Judiciary and Public Safety Committee also approved a measure to allow voting by mail as a permanent option for residents in local elections.

In Congress, both the House and Senate are awaiting a final vote on a bill to update the Electoral Count Act of 1887 to ensure votes accurately reflect each state's presidential election.

The bill says the vice president serves only an administrative role in certifying the Electoral College votes but has no authority to accept or reject electors. It also says at least one-fifth of Congress must object to the accuracy of the presidential vote to force a recount, rather than one member of both the House and Senate like under current law.

The legislation is a response to the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the Capitol by Trump supporters who tried to stop Congress from certifying the 2020 election win for Joe Biden.

A final vote on the bill is most likely after the November midterm election.

For more information, contact The Legal Forum (www.legal-forum.net) at email: tramstack@gmail.com or phone: 202-479-7240.