A Victory in the Fight Against Voter Suppression

Today the U.S. Supreme Court denied a request for a hearing to appeal the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals 2016 ruling that struck down North Carolina’s discriminatory voter ID law. The lower court ruled that the state’s omnibus voting law targeted African-American voters “with precision” by eliminating or preventing same day registration, early voting, and out-of-precinct voting.

The ACLU along with the Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ) filed a lawsuit challenging the law and its severe impact on voter participation. They noted that “until 2014, North Carolinians could register, or update their registration information and vote, in one trip to an early voting site.” The law targeted early voting and out-of-precinct voting, which is used by an overwhelming majority of African-American voters.

The U.S. Supreme Court’s denial to hear the appeal allows for the 4th Circuit Court’s ruling to put an end to the discriminatory law and stop voter suppression in the state. This is a big win for voters.

The United States does not guarantee the right to vote. Without an enshrined constitutional right to vote, some states pass laws that make it harder for citizens to vote and (as in the case of North Carolina) target specific populations.

Democracy works best when everyone has a voice and our leaders are held accountable to the people. As we celebrate this victory for voting rights, we must continue to advance pro-democracy reforms like same day and automatic voter registration, restoring the Voting Rights Act (VRA), and restoring full voting rights to returning citizens in the criminal justice system.