Overturn Unconstitutional Voting Rights Act; Congress Must Move on Outdated Measure

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Byline: Roger Clegg and Joshua P. Thompson, SPECIAL TO THE WASHINGTON TIMES

The Supreme Court granted review last week in Shelby County v. Holder, a case challenging the constitutionality of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

This is an important case because Section 5 is one of the key provisions of the act. It requires many state and local governments - primarily but not exclusively in the South - to get permission from the federal government before making changes in any voting-related practice or procedure.

This includes everything from moving a polling place from an elementary school to the junior high school across the street, to statewide redistricting plans, to voter ID laws and …