Fact Check: Supreme Court's conservative majority has limited Voting Rights Act since 2013.

Fact Check: Supreme Court's Conservative Majority Has Limited Voting Rights Act Since 2013

What We Know

In 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court, led by its conservative majority, made a landmark decision in the case of Shelby County v. Holder, which effectively invalidated key provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The Court ruled that states with a history of racial discrimination no longer needed federal approval for changes to their voting laws, stating that “things have changed dramatically” since the Act was enacted (Washington Post). This decision eliminated the preclearance requirement, which had been a critical tool for preventing racial discrimination in voting.

Following this ruling, many states, particularly those led by Republican legislatures, enacted new voting restrictions that disproportionately affected minority voters. For instance, states like Georgia and Texas implemented stricter voter ID laws and closed polling places in areas serving predominantly minority communities (AP News). These changes have been described as forms of voter suppression, as they create additional barriers for voters of color.

Additionally, the Supreme Court has continued to rule in ways that limit voting rights. For example, in 2018, the Court upheld a law in Ohio that allowed the state to purge voters from registration lists if they had not voted in recent elections, effectively making voting a "use-it-or-lose-it" right (Washington Post). Moreover, the Court ruled that federal courts could not intervene in partisan gerrymandering cases, which has implications for how district maps are drawn and can further entrench political power (Washington Post).

Analysis

The claim that the Supreme Court's conservative majority has limited the Voting Rights Act since 2013 is substantiated by the Court's actions and subsequent legal interpretations. The ruling in Shelby County v. Holder is widely recognized as a pivotal moment that dismantled significant protections against racial discrimination in voting (AP News). Critics argue that this decision has emboldened states to pass laws that restrict voting access, particularly for minority populations, which aligns with the historical context of the Voting Rights Act's original intent.

The reliability of the sources used in this analysis is strong. The Washington Post and AP News are reputable news organizations known for their journalistic integrity and fact-checking standards. They provide detailed accounts of the Supreme Court's decisions and their implications on voting rights, supported by expert opinions and statistical data. Furthermore, the analysis reflects a consensus among legal scholars and civil rights advocates regarding the detrimental effects of the Court's rulings on voting rights (Washington Post; AP News).

Conclusion

The verdict on the claim that the Supreme Court's conservative majority has limited the Voting Rights Act since 2013 is True. The Court's ruling in Shelby County v. Holder and subsequent decisions have indeed led to significant rollbacks in voting protections, enabling states to implement laws that disproportionately affect minority voters. This aligns with the broader narrative of increasing voter suppression tactics in the United States.

Fact Check: Supreme Court's conservative majority has limited Voting Rights Act since 2013.