# "Federal Court Moves to Drastically Weaken Voting Rights Act"

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/federal-court-moves-to-drastically-weaken-voting-rights-act/993437>\
**Category:** Politics & Elections\
**Created:** [November 20, 2023, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/federal-court-moves-to-drastically-weaken-voting-rights-act/993437 "2023-11-20T19:11:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2023, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/federal-court-moves-to-drastically-weaken-voting-rights-act/993437/1 "2023-11-20T19:11:45Z")

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> **[Federal Court Moves to Drastically Weaken Voting Rights Act](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/20/us/politics/voting-rights-act.html?unlocked_article_code=1._0w.ylLO.K_bAIYeuOF82&smid=url-share)**
>
> The ruling, which is almost certain to be appealed to the Supreme Court, would effectively bar private citizens and civil rights groups from suing under a key provision of the landmark law.

> …  
> Should the ruling stand, it would remove perhaps the most important facet of the Voting Rights Act; the majority of challenges to discriminatory laws and racial gerrymanders have come from private citizens and civil rights groups.  
> …

The campaign continues. Republicans have said the only way they can get elected is to curtail voting rights from every direction.

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**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2023, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/federal-court-moves-to-drastically-weaken-voting-rights-act/993437/2 "2023-11-20T19:21:58Z")

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… with a SCOTUS that works out of their pocket(book).

Yes, this is very bad.

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**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2023, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/federal-court-moves-to-drastically-weaken-voting-rights-act/993437/3 "2023-11-20T19:37:11Z")

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The Eighth Circuit is the most conservative circuit in the country, said an analysis in 2012. That’s saying a lot since they’re next to the utterly loon-filled Fifth Circuit.

Circuit Court judgement on federal issues no longer mean the paper they’re written on. Every politically-charged ruling now goes to the Supreme Court. That’s bad for reasons beyond the Supreme’s conservatism. (Can we just start calling the ultra-right three Flo, Mary, and Diana?) No matter is ever settled until all the appeals are exhausted. The Court is both overburdened and choosing to hear fewer cases every year. Justice delayed is justice denied, as in the old saying.

Another old saying is that the court follows the election results. Robert’s Court wants to go ultra-right but he wants to obey the majority view of voters so as not to have 1/6 style rebellions on a daily basis. I believe that a large Biden win and a Democratic Congress will temper the Court’s decisions.

A Democratic Congress is unlikely from the current outlook so the can will be kicked down the road again. (Happy Cliche Day, everyone!) If such a Congress materialized, a new and stronger Voting Rights Act is mandatory.