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#FPF list of Federal Anti-discrimination laws - Future of Privacy

The Voting Rights Act of 1965, 42 U.S.C. §§ 1973 et seq.. was enacted to prevent and remedy racial discrimination in voting. Section 2 prohibits voting practices that have the purpose or result of discriminating against members of a racial or minority language group.  Plaintiffs must establish, “based on the totality of circumstances.   that its members have less opportunity than other members of the electorate to participate in the political process and to elect representatives of their choice.”  Section 2 has been used most frequently to challenge election systems that dilute minority voting strength, such as literacy tests and similar devices that were historically used to disfranchise racial minorities.

Meanwhile, Under Section 5, specific states and counties with a history of discrimination must receive federal preclearance before they implement any change affecting voting. These jurisdictions may also have to provide language assistance to language minority groups. Finally, the law prohibits intimidating, threatening, coercing another person with the purpose of interfering with their right to vote.