Law Has Helped Provide Important Protections For Minority Voters
Schneiderman: The Voting Rights Act Remains A Central Component of American Democracy
NEW YORK – Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman issued the following statement today regarding the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965:
“The Voting Rights Act is one of our country’s most effective and powerful civil rights statutes. This historic law was passed in response to the advocacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. and his fellow civil rights demonstrators, whose stirring march from Selma to Montgomery galvanized a nation. For fifty years, the Voting Rights Act has ensured free and unencumbered access to the ballot box—the very foundation of our democracy—for generations of disenfranchised minorities in New York and across the country.
“On this anniversary, we honor the sacrifice of those who made this important legislation possible, while also recognizing that our work is far from done. Let us recommit ourselves to reversing the damage done by the recent Supreme Court ruling that gutted a core provision of the Voting Rights Act. My office will continue to fight for a vision of American democracy in which we strive for and encourage the highest levels of voter turnout and participation.”
The Attorney General’s Civil Rights Bureau has made enforcement of the Voting Rights Act and expansion of voting rights a key priority. The bureau has worked to expand access for minority language speakers, operated a statewide Election Day hotline; and fought to secure new protections against intimidation and harassment faced by minority voters. Attorney General Schneiderman published an op-ed, “Fifty Years After Selma, The Fight For Voting Rights Continues” in March.
The Civil Rights Bureau Chief is Kristen Clarke. The bureau is part of the Attorney General’s Social Justice Division, which is led by Executive Deputy Attorney General Alvin Bragg.
The Attorney General’s Office is committed to enforcement of the Voting Rights Act. To file a complaint, contact the Civil Rights Bureau at (212) 416-8250, civil.rights@ag.ny.gov or visit www.ag.ny.gov.
