Attorney General Lopez has joined a coalition of 19 attorneys general in defending Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act in a Georgia redistricting lawsuit. The attorneys general are urging the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit to uphold the protection against racial discrimination in elections.
Deputy Solicitor General Thomas Hughes emphasized the significance of Section 2, stating, "Section 2 is an important tool to prevent unconstitutional racial gerrymanders." The attorneys general collectively asserted that "Section 2 of the voting rights act is constitutional, and that it is a critical tool enacted by Congress to enforce the Fifteenth Amendment."
The case in question, Pendergrass v. Secretary of State of Georgia, involves challenges to Georgia's new congressional and state legislative district maps following the 2020 census. The lawsuit alleges that the maps unlawfully diluted the political power of Black voters in the state. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, ordering Georgia to redraw its maps to include additional majority-Black districts.
The Georgia Secretary of State appealed this decision, arguing against the constitutionality of Section 2 and the right of individual voters and organizations to challenge racially discriminatory election practices. In response, the coalition of attorneys general filed an amicus brief supporting the lower court's decision and urging the Eleventh Circuit to uphold Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.
The attorneys general highlighted the importance of Section 2 as a tool to combat racially discriminatory election practices and emphasized the role of private lawsuits in ensuring equal voting rights. Attorney General Lopez was joined by counterparts from California, Colorado, Connecticut, and other states in this effort to defend voting rights.
The coalition's stance is based on the belief that Section 2 is essential in upholding the Fifteenth Amendment and ensuring that citizens' right to vote is not denied or abridged on the basis of race. The brief submitted by the attorneys general underscores the significance of protecting minority voting power and preventing discriminatory election practices.
For more information, a copy of the brief can be accessed here.