Voting is A Right for Americans, Not A Privilege

Floor Speech

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Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on Restoration Tuesday to acknowledge the recent Supreme Court decision on August 31, 2016 denying North Carolina's request to reinstate controversial voting laws which were implemented following the 2013 Shelby v. Holder case.

The rejected North Carolina voting laws included strict voter ID laws and cutbacks to early voting from 17 days to 10 days as well as elimination of the preregistration option for 16-year-olds. The Supreme Court's order upheld the North Carolina Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals decision which characterized the laws as targeting ``African Americans with almost surgical precision.''

It is a somber celebration in this democratic society when voter disenfranchisement is denied. This is a battle that America should not have to continue to fight. From the streets to the court rooms, the right to a voice--the right to a vote has been fought for. For this upcoming election, North Carolina will not have to be subject to new voting laws that would make voting harder, not easier for eligible voters. This is a great victory for voting rights--for democracy and for the principles this country was built on.

Many states however are not as fortunate as North Carolina. Since the 2013 Shelby v. Holder decision, over 22 states including my home state of Alabama, implemented new oppressive voting laws affecting thousands of eligible Americans across the country. In 2013, the Supreme Court charged Congress with the responsibility of creating a modern formula for states and local governments to obtain federal preclearance before implementing changes to voting laws or practices.

Last year, I introduced a bill, the Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2015, which addresses the residual problems left behind by the Shelby v. Holder ruling. It has been 3 years since this Supreme Court ruling and over a full year since I introduced the Voting Rights Advancement Act. We, the Members of Congress cannot and should not continue to overburden the courts because we refuse to act. Political gridlock has no place in the voting rights of our people, and especially in an election year.

Former President Lyndon B. Johnson reminded us all when he said ``voting is the first duty of democracy.'' I implore my colleagues to remember why we are here. We have a great work to do. We work for the American people and we are guided by the Constitution of the United States of America. I urge my colleagues to support any and all advancements in voting rights--this is not an act of ``good heart''-- this is our duty.

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