The Voting Rights Act, a landmark law that has for decades protected Black Americans from attempts to erode their political power, was dealt one of its most significant challenges this week when a federal appeals court moved to strike down a crucial part of the legislation.
Beyond the country’s polarized racial politics, a large part of why the law has been such a magnet for legal challenges has to do with the nature of the American electoral system.
With both parties angling for the smallest of edges, changes to voting rules and to the playing field of elections often end up in court.
“And election litigation itself has increased markedly in the last two decades, so we shouldn’t be surprised if V.R.A.
litigation and challenges to the V.R.A.
Persons:
Lyndon, Johnson, it’s, ”, Nathaniel Persily
Organizations:
American, Stanford Law School, “