Whats the impact of the Voting Rights Act? How are the rights of minority voters protected?
Minority voting rights are protected by the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965. It specifically prevents district plans from decreasing the ability of minority voters to elect representatives of their choice. This is true no matter how Virginia decides to draw its district map. Our plan for reform specifically notes that any district plan that comes out of the Commission must conform with the Voting Rights Act, the US Constitution, any any relevant case law. Virginia is also under additional restrictions by the federal Voting Rights Act. Any change in district maps must be sent to the federal Department of Justice for its approval, a process called “pre-clearance.” They make sure that the new map is unlikely to run afoul of the Act before it can be used.
