Court strikes down New York’s John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act – Spectrum News
Court strikes down New York's John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act Spectrum News
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State Supreme Court Strikes Down New York Voting Rights Law
The state Supreme Court in Orange County has invalidated a New York state law aimed at preventing local officials from implementing regulations that may suppress voting rights based on race.
The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act
The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act, named after the late civil rights activist who served as a representative for Georgia in the U.S. House of Representatives, was enacted by the New York state Legislature in 2022. The law seeks to reintroduce a modified version of the “preclearance” provision that was removed from the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 by a U.S. Supreme Court decision in 2013.
Preventing Discrimination
Under the original provision, states and counties with a history of suppressing the voting rights of Black individuals were required to obtain approval from the U.S. Department of Justice before making any changes to voting regulations. Similarly, the New York state law mandates that local governments or school districts with a history of discrimination must obtain approval from state officials in order to implement certain voting policies.
Court Decision
In their ruling on Thursday, the court declared that New York’s law violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. This clause prohibits states from depriving any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, and from denying any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
As federal statutes take precedence over state laws, the court decided to invalidate the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act in its entirety.
“When New York enacted the strongest voting rights law in the country, we knew there would be challenges. I disagree with the court’s legal reasoning and expect this decision will be overturned on appeal,” stated Senator Zellnor Myrie, chair of the state Senate Committee on Elections and author of the legislation.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
- SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
The article discusses a New York state law intended to prevent local officials from enacting rules that might suppress people’s voting rights because of their race. This issue is connected to SDG 16, which focuses on promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, providing access to justice for all, and building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels. It is also connected to SDG 10, which aims to reduce inequalities within and among countries.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- SDG 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.
- SDG 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies, and action in this regard.
The article highlights the New York state law that aims to prevent local officials from enacting rules that suppress people’s voting rights based on their race. This aligns with the targets of SDG 16.3, which focuses on promoting the rule of law and ensuring equal access to justice for all. It also aligns with the targets of SDG 10.3, which aims to reduce inequalities by eliminating discriminatory laws and promoting appropriate legislation and action.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Indicator for SDG 16.3: Number of countries with laws and regulations that guarantee the right to public information and access to government-held data.
- Indicator for SDG 10.3: Number of countries with laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination based on race or ethnicity.
The article does not explicitly mention any indicators, but based on the content, potential indicators can be identified. For SDG 16.3, an indicator could be the number of countries with laws and regulations that guarantee the right to public information and access to government-held data. For SDG 10.3, an indicator could be the number of countries with laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination based on race or ethnicity.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all. | Number of countries with laws and regulations that guarantee the right to public information and access to government-held data. |
| SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities | Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies, and action in this regard. | Number of countries with laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination based on race or ethnicity. |
Source: spectrumlocalnews.com
