Free Republic

“This issue transcends partisanship, and we must work together,” said AG Eric Holder in a speech before the National Urban League in Philadephia a week ago. (1) The “issue” Holder referred to was the overthrow by the Supreme Court of the preclearance requirement–Sections 4, 5–of the Voting Rights Act. Thanks to the ruling in Shelby County v Holder it will no longer be necessary for selected states and jurisdictions to have all proposed changes to voting procedure approved (precleared) by the Department of Justice or the DC District Court. And how has the Attorney General decided to “transcend partisanship” and...

With Congress poised to extend, for another quarter-century, certain "temporary" provisions of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, it's worth pondering some of the political mischief taking place these days in the name of "voting rights." Take New York's 11th Congressional District, a safe Democratic seat covering several neighborhoods in Brooklyn. The seat is currently occupied by Major Owens, a black Democrat who has held it since 1983 and is retiring this year. One of the four candidates to replace him is David Yassky, a white Democrat who represents some of the same Brooklyn neighborhoods as a city councilman. Mr. Owens...