Latino Political Progress Derailed by DOJ Appointees

Washington, DC– Today the National Association of Latino Elected and AppointedOfficials (NALEO) released the following statement relating to recentDepartment of Justice, Voting Rights Section rulings

“We are deeply troubled about recent mediareports suggesting that top political appointees at the Department ofJustice (DOJ) have overruled determinations by career attorneys thatelectoral changes in Texas and Georgia endanger the voting rights ofLatinos and other minorities. In Texas, it appears that top-level DOJofficials allowed the state to implement a mid-decade redistrictingthat dilutes minority electoral opportunities despite concernsexpressed by several DOJ staffers, including the head of the VotingRights section. A few weeks ago, the national news media reported thattop agency officials ignored objections by career attorneys toGeorgia’s new discriminatory voter identification requirements, whichimpose an unfair and unnecessary burden on minorities, the elderly, thepoor, and rural voters.

The DOJ has the important responsibility ofenforcing the laws that gurantee all of our nation’s citizens fair andequal access to the electoral process. One of its most powerful toolsis Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA), which requiresstates with a history of discrimination against minority voters toobtain DOJ approval before implementing election changes. However, themedia reports about the Texas and Georgia decisions suggest that thetop DOJ officials may be putting political considerations before theprotection of our citizens’ fundamental right to vote. This isparticularly disturbing at a time when Congress has just started toaddress the renewal of key provisions of the VRA, including Section 5.Congress’ renewal of Seciton 5 must go hand-in-hand with vigorousenforcement of Section 5 by the DOJ.

EveryAmerican should be extremely troubled by what seems to be the choice ofofficials charged with upholding our nation’s laws to compromise fair and equalpolitical representation for potential political gain.  The DOJ must notturn the clock back on the progress made by Latino and other minoritycommunities in Texas and Georgia – progress that makes our democracy and moreaccountable to all of its citizens’ voices.”

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