The U.S. Department of Justice says it will ask a federal court to reinstate Justice Department authority over voting laws in the state of Texas, just weeks after the Supreme Court struck down part of that authority.
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder told the National Urban League in Philadelphia Thursday that the Justice Department is petitioning the federal court in San Antonio, Texas, to require the state to obtain advanced approval from the government before making voting changes such as redistricting. He said Texas has a history of intentional voting discrimination against racial minorities.
The Obama administration has looked for ways to oppose voting discrimination since the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated a key part of the 1965 Voting Rights Act in June. The high court's 5-4 ruling said that the formula used to determine which states and localities needed additional federal scrutiny was outdated.
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder told the National Urban League in Philadelphia Thursday that the Justice Department is petitioning the federal court in San Antonio, Texas, to require the state to obtain advanced approval from the government before making voting changes such as redistricting. He said Texas has a history of intentional voting discrimination against racial minorities.
The Obama administration has looked for ways to oppose voting discrimination since the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated a key part of the 1965 Voting Rights Act in June. The high court's 5-4 ruling said that the formula used to determine which states and localities needed additional federal scrutiny was outdated.