Why was Voting Rights Act Reauthorization Important?
While the provisions of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act are permanent, Section 5 was due to expire on August 6, 2007. Had that happened, places which are currently covered jurisdictions would no longer have been subject to preclearance and would have been free to change their election systems. This does not mean that African-Americans, or any other group, will lose their right to vote in 2007. The Fifteenth Amendment states that “[t]he right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” In addition, the Voting Rights Act of will still ensure equality in the right to vote, and provide a mechanism for enforcement through Section 2. Nevertheless, Section 5 is important as a deterrent to localities considering making discriminatory changes, and is a vital protection for many minority communities. It is much faster, more efficient and more cost effective to prev
