A Level Politics -Civil Rights-Voting Rights

A Level Politics -Civil Rights-Voting Rights
This section summarizes the impact of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and subsequent legal challenges on voter turnout, particularly within African-American and Hispanic communities.
I. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA): A Landmark Achievement

• Impact: The VRA dramatically increased African-American voter participation, especially in the South where discriminatory practices were prevalent. The text uses Mississippi as a prime example (7% turnout in 1964 to 67% in 1969).
• Consequences: Increased Black voter turnout led to:
  • Politicians tailoring policies to attract Black voters.
  • Election of African-American candidates to office.

II. Shelby County v. Holder (2013): A Setback for Voting Rights

• Supreme Court Ruling: The Supreme Court's decision in Shelby County v. Holder struck down a key provision of the VRA, allowing states to implement stricter voting regulations.
• Consequences: Over 25 states enacted voter restrictions since 2010.

III. Voter ID Laws: A Disproportionate Impact

• Strict Voter ID Laws: These laws disproportionately affect African-Americans and Hispanics, who are less likely to possess the required identification.
• Impact on Turnout: Strict voter ID laws have decreased turnout among African-Americans and Hispanics, while barely affecting white voters.
• Political Ramifications: Since African-Americans and Hispanics tend to vote Democrat, these laws are argued to benefit Republican candidates.

IV. Presidential Elections and Voter Turnout:

• 2016 Election: Black voter turnout dropped by 7 percentage points in 2016, reversing a positive trend. This decline is attributed to:
  • The absence of an African-American presidential candidate after Obama's presidency (potential impact).
  • The impact of voting restrictions (a significant contributing factor).
• 2020 Election: A significant mobilization effort by groups like the NAACP, African-American churches, and the Democratic Party led to record-high Black voter turnout. This was crucial to Biden's victory, especially among Black 18-30 year-olds (88% Biden) and Black women (91% Biden).

V. Key Terms & Concepts:

• Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA): Legislation designed to overcome legal barriers at the state and local levels that prevented African Americans from exercising their right to vote under the 15th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
• Shelby County v. Holder (2013): Supreme Court case that weakened the VRA by invalidating Section 4(b), which determined which jurisdictions were subject to preclearance requirements.
• Voter ID Laws: Laws requiring voters to present government-issued photo identification at the polls. These laws have been criticized for disproportionately impacting minority voters.
• Voter Suppression: Strategies employed to make it more difficult for certain groups of people to register and vote.

VI. Study Questions:

1. Explain the significant impact of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
2. How did Shelby County v. Holder alter the landscape of voting rights?
3. Discuss the disproportionate effect of voter ID laws on minority voter turnout.
4. Analyze the influence of voting restrictions on the 2016 and 2020 presidential election outcomes.
5. What strategies were employed to mobilize Black voters in the 2020 election?

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