The Deconstruction of the VRA: Assessing Voting Practices and Legislation Moving Forward
Location
Room 217, Schewel Hall
Access Type
Campus Access Only
Entry Number
111
Start Date
4-5-2023 4:00 PM
End Date
4-5-2023 4:15 PM
College
Lynchburg College of Arts and Sciences
Department
Political Science
Abstract
Though founded on the voice of the people, the United States has a long and violent history of denying its citizens the fundamental right to vote. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was thus a landmark in civil rights legislation, establishing the right for all citizens to vote, including those previously disenfranchised based on their race. This thesis examines the state of voting rights, with specific regard to voting rights legislation, in the United States from the introduction of the Act in 1965 onward. Focusing on the protections offered and the measures instituted to combat discriminatory legislation, I analyze the effects of both the Act and the subsequent changes made to it. This thesis considers the voter registration statistics before the Voting Rights Act, during the years when it did not see considerable change, and after the Shelby County v. Holder (2013) decision; the prevalence and frequency of discriminatory voting legislation on a state-by-state basis; and the constitutionality of past and future voting rights legislation. This data combined with the surrounding scholarly discussion suggests that new legislation is necessary to combat the diminishing of voting rights for disenfranchised populations. As the Shelby County decision has removed a large portion of the federal oversight offered by the Act, the original effects and intention of the Voting Rights Act have been undermined; thus, new legislation that focuses on nationwide restructuring and federal regulation is necessary to protect all citizens' right to vote.
Faculty Mentor(s)
Dr. Dan Lang Dr. Beth Savage Dr. Edward DeClair
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The Deconstruction of the VRA: Assessing Voting Practices and Legislation Moving Forward
Room 217, Schewel Hall
Though founded on the voice of the people, the United States has a long and violent history of denying its citizens the fundamental right to vote. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was thus a landmark in civil rights legislation, establishing the right for all citizens to vote, including those previously disenfranchised based on their race. This thesis examines the state of voting rights, with specific regard to voting rights legislation, in the United States from the introduction of the Act in 1965 onward. Focusing on the protections offered and the measures instituted to combat discriminatory legislation, I analyze the effects of both the Act and the subsequent changes made to it. This thesis considers the voter registration statistics before the Voting Rights Act, during the years when it did not see considerable change, and after the Shelby County v. Holder (2013) decision; the prevalence and frequency of discriminatory voting legislation on a state-by-state basis; and the constitutionality of past and future voting rights legislation. This data combined with the surrounding scholarly discussion suggests that new legislation is necessary to combat the diminishing of voting rights for disenfranchised populations. As the Shelby County decision has removed a large portion of the federal oversight offered by the Act, the original effects and intention of the Voting Rights Act have been undermined; thus, new legislation that focuses on nationwide restructuring and federal regulation is necessary to protect all citizens' right to vote.