Federal Appeals Court Ruling Limits Voting Rights Act Enforcement in 7 States

A federal appeals panel in the 8th Circuit ruled that private individuals and organizations cannot sue under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act through Section 1983, a statute historically used to challenge racial discrimination in voting. The decision affects Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The case stemmed from a redistricting dispute involving North Dakota tribal nations who argued Native American voters were disenfranchised. This ruling follows a trend of judicial decisions weakening the VRA and limits enforcement power exclusively to the U.S. Department of Justice. Critics say the decision undermines decades of precedent and civil rights protections, while legal experts anticipate further Supreme Court challenges to voting access.

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Source: NPR