CAPAC Members Recognize the 10th Anniversary of Shelby County v. Holder

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, just days ahead of the 10th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Shelby County v. Holder decision — a decision which ruled two provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 unconstitutional — members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) renewed their commitment to defend our communities’ right to vote.

CAPAC Members released the following statements:

CAPAC Chair Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28):

“The freedom to vote is a cornerstone of our country’s democracy, and every American should have equal opportunity to exercise this fundamental right. Unfortunately, it has been a decade since the Shelby County v. Holder decision, which further exacerbated barriers to voting, and efforts to suppress the votes of communities of color have not ceased since then. While other provisions within the Voting Rights Act have been upheld in this recent Supreme Court session through the Allen v. Milligan decision earlier this month, there is still more work to be done. We must continue the fight to protect our civil rights and achieve equal access to voting for all our communities by passing the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to restore the full strength of the Voting Rights Act.”

CAPAC First Vice-Chair Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06):

“Ten years ago, the Shelby County v. Holder Supreme Court Decision dismantled key aspects of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, leaving states free to implement laws that heavily restricted access to the ballot box in minority communities. The right to vote is more than just a pillar of our democracy, it is the root of our American values. We must continue to combat attempts to suppress voter access and eradicate voter discrimination and suppression completely. Equal access to the ballot box ensures equal and diverse representation in our government, and America’s diversity is part of what makes us extraordinary. We can never cease fighting against efforts to disenfranchise people from exercising their fundamental American right.”

CAPAC Second Vice-Chair Rep. Mark Takano (CA-39):

“This Sunday marks a decade since the Supreme Court’s decision to gut the Voting Rights Act and strike down protections against discriminatory voter suppression practices. In the years since, we have seen countless attacks on voting rights and acts of voter disenfranchisement that disproportionately impact minority communities. The right to vote is a core tenet of our democracy. We must protect this fundamental right and continue fighting to restore the Voting Rights Act, ensuring voting is safe and accessible for all.”

CAPAC Whip Rep. Ted Lieu (CA-36):

“The Supreme Court’s decision in Shelby County v. Holder 10 years ago gutted key provisions of the Voting Rights Act that ensured all American citizens would have equal access to the ballot box, regardless of race. Since this ruling, voter suppression, discrimination, and disenfranchisement have taken root as states pass restrictive voter identification laws, cut down on the number of polling locations, and limit early voting opportunities. Each of these misguided measures disproportionately impact voters of color. We owe it to each and every American to honor and defend the constitutional right to vote, not curtail it. I remain committed to support legislation that will protect election integrity and ensure all voters can make their voices heard.”

Sen. Tammy Duckworth (IL):

“10 years ago, the Supreme Court made the misguided decision to gut the landmark Voting Rights Act in Shelby County v. Holder—unleashing a wave of voter suppression tactics and laws that are now disenfranchising voters of color across the nation. To this day, Republican-led state legislatures continue to usher in Jim Crow 2.0 while Republicans in Washington cheer them on and block every Democratic effort to protect the freedom to vote. Enough—we need to make it easier for every American to vote, not harder.”

Rep. Barbara Lee (CA-12):

“The Supreme Court's decision in Shelby County v. Holder to gut parts of the Voting Rights Act was devastating for the right to vote of communities of color, who often face the highest barriers to access the ballot box. AANHPI communities disproportionately bear the brunt of language barriers, discriminatory voter ID laws, and the loss of ballot access. I urge my colleagues to pass legislation such as the John Lewis Voting Rights Act to tackle the racist inequities of disenfranchisement against communities of color and ensure that our nation's core values of democratic participation are upheld.”

Rep. Marilyn Strickland (WA-10):

"Since SCOTUS gutted the Voting Rights Act a decade ago, states have chipped away at the rights of minority voters in communities across the country. I’m proud to advocate and fight with CAPAC because the right to vote is fundamental to our democracy. I remain committed to ensuring every American has equal access to the ballot box."

Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01):

“Ten years ago, the Supreme Court struck down critical provisions of the Voting Rights Act in Shelby County v. Holder. The case unleashed a wave of voter suppression efforts across the country, leading to the disenfranchisement of marginalized communities – particularly communities of color. The recent case against Alabama’s racially gerrymandered congressional maps is a reminder that voting rights are still under attack and that we must fully restore the Voting Rights Act, our bedrock law protecting the right to vote. The ability to vote without burdensome restrictions is fundamental to the health of democracy, and I stand with my CAPAC colleagues to advocate for legislation that will strengthen, restore, and protect voting rights in our country”.