(Long Island, NY) NYS Senator Adriano Espaillat, released the following statement today in regard to the Supreme Court Voting Rights Act Decision
“The protections guaranteed by Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act were not arbitrarily assigned, and have not lost their value.”
“Blacks and Latinos continue to struggle to cast their vote in our democracy, and face disproportionate challenges to making their voice count. As we saw last November, minority communities experienced staggeringly long wait times at the polls, leaving many people with jobs, young children and other commitments unable to participate.”
“Geographic regions with a legacy of minority disenfranchisement and voter suppression tactics, including Harlem, Washington Heights and other neighborhoods in our city still need this safeguard. And with federal immigration reform expected to add millions of new voters to the rolls, many of whom do not speak English, the Court’s decision to abandon this provision will only make it harder for proud naturalized citizens to finally participate in the electoral process of the country they’ve made a commitment to.”
“With the Department of Justice no longer sufficiently empowered to ensure transparency and accountability, we must enact new federal, state and local laws to assist vulnerable members of our community and ensure their vote still counts.”
