What's the deal with the Voters' Rights Act?

Question

Hi. I found out from a friend that the Voters' Right Act is an Act that was passed by the federal gov't that basically gives African-Americans permission to vote. In 1965 Linden Johnson signed and passed the Act for 25 years, and then Reagan signed and passed it again for another 25 years. This Act was never made into law. By the end of 2007 the terms of this act are supposed to expire. President Bush has to sign the Act and 38 states have to agree with him. People need to contact senators, congressman and alderman and tell them that they want this Act to become Law. If nothing is done about this Act blacks can lose the right to vote. I'm black and I am outraged-if your black and American you should be too. I'm telling every black I know about this and I encourage you all to do the same.
Why was this Act was concocted in the first place?
This is racism and discrimination. Blacks are the only group that needs permission to vote. Does the US gov't see black Americans as a threat?

To all the African-American members here:
I'd like to know what are your views on this?

Answer 1

WRONG !!!!

This is just more Internet BS.

The Voting Rights Act does NOT give blacks the right to vote. Blacks are guaranteed the right to vote by the 15th Amendment to the US Constitution.

All the Voting Rights Act did was give the Federal Government a tool to use to compel States that were resisting giving voting rights to blacks to comply with the constitution. The expiration of the Act does NOT mean that blacks lose the right to vote.

The act is expiring because - as expected - it's no longer needed. Cities like Atlanta, GA that were once leaders in the fight to stop Blacks from voting now have a black Mayor and a majority black council. Southern States elect more black Congressmen than northern ones do.

What's REALLY frightening is the level of ignorance of the law shown by the fact that this hoax keeps circulating. How can Black Americans, given the history of the civil rights movement in this country NOT know simple things like this. Do NONE of our high schools teach ANYTHING in civics classes any more?

Richard

Answer 2

No, the 15th amendment of the Constitution is what protects African Americans' right to vote.

"Amendment 15 - Race No Bar to Vote. Ratified 2/3/1870.

1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation."

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was that appropriate legislation during the civil rights movement to reinforce the 15th amendment with states that were practicing segregation and denying people of color the right to register to vote or charging them a poll tax before they could vote. The act was extended when evidence of gerrymandering came to the federal government's attention--gerrymandering is the act of redrawing districts in such a convoluted way that it breaks up a voting bloch or dilutes a voting district's influence.

It will probably be renewed, although we are fast approaching a time when it will become unnecessary and it will not need to be renewed.

If the Voting Rights Act is not extended, you will NOT lose your right to vote. Poll taxes will not come back.

Gerrymandering however does go on, but it is not always a racial thing. (The big scandal in Texas last session was that the Republican controlled house redrew several districts in their favor and then they wanted to cry and whine about how they still lost a couple of seats in the redrawn districts. All of Democrat house members left the floor and took a bus to New Mexico in protest of the district redrawing. The whole situation was almost comical.)

as to who needs permission to vote:

19th Amendment gives women the right to vote--before that only MALES were allowed to vote

26th Amendment lowered the voting age to 18--before that you had to be 21 to vote.

Originally the voting requirements were much stricter. In order to vote you had to be a White, Male, Landowner, over the age of 25.

Answer 3

The Voters Rights Act doesn't give African-Americans the right to vote, that was established by the 15th Amendment. What the Act did was make sure nobody could prevent African-Americans from exercising their rights, by requiring states to seek federal approval to change their voting procedures.

Answer 4

The southern states used all manner of tactics to keep blacks from voting and this law was part of the civil rights struggle to secure the right to vote for African Americans in the South. The struggle still goes on.

Bush wants to do away with it.

You need to read about the history of the Civil Rights movement. Read about Martin Luther King.

Check out the URL

Answer 5

the deal is every 25 years this will have to be enacted because the 15 admendment to the constituiondidn't include us when it was made we were lower than the farm animals. the constitution would have to be REWRITTEN to INCLUDE US!! ALSO THE DRED SCOTT DECISION OF 1857 SAY A BLACK MAN HAS NO RIGHT THAT A WHITE IS BOUND TO RESPECT!!! ADECISION PASSED by THE SUPREME COURT THE HIGHEST COURT in THIS SOCIALIST REPUBLIC GOVERNMENT IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW.

Answer 6

Don't feel that you are discriminated. I know that the government has a better plan for this matter and I think they will resolve it as soon as possible. Racism has no part in this world today. We are all equal because at the end of the day we are all human beings being trapped in Earth.Threat is not an issue I believe but it's more on misunderstanding or misconception. Try to look on a positive side of the issue.

Answer 7

i recieved an email from my friend that said the same thing. actually, that was new to me. i didnt know that.even though the 15th amendmant protects african americans from losing their right to vote. i still think that we should talk to the people that we vote to put in office about this Voter's Rights Act.

Answer 8

I am not black , however I am very outraged to hear this since I too, have experienced racial discrimination from everyone based on me being european. [ mostly by Pubic officials -- Isnt that the thing?!] -- I know very well what your going through. America needs to realize she is in the damn 21century -- Good God! . I agree people need to start speaking up for themselves---geeesh!

Answer 9

I am guessing this comes from Florida and was not supposed to be circulated in public :)