Conservative Majority of US Supreme Court Makes it Harder to Vote and Easier to Buy Elections
Contact Name: Marina Altschiller
Phone: (603) 271-3207
Today, the United State Supreme Court issued two anti-democracy 6-3 opinions in Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee and Americans for Prosperity Foundation v. Bonta. In Brnovich, the Supreme Court further dismantled the historic Voting Rights Act by limiting the ability to challenge voting laws that disproportionately impact minority voters. In Americans for Prosperity, the Court struck down a California law requiring tax-exempt organizations disclose major contributors.
In her dissent of Brnovich, Justice Kagan wrote, "The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is an extraordinary law... Never has a statute done more to advance the Nation’s highest ideals. And few laws are more vital in the current moment. Yet in the last decade, this Court has treated no statute worse."
Senate Democratic Leader Donna Soucy (D-Manchester) and Senator Rebecca Perkins Kwoka (D-Portsmouth) who both served on the Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs Committee issued the following statement in response:
Senate Democratic Leader Donna Soucy (D-Manchester) stated, “The future of our democracy is in peril. With these rulings, the Supreme Court made it harder to vote and easier for anonymous donors to buy our elections. That’s unacceptable. Voting is the most fundamental American right, but Republican politicians are more concerned with keeping their jobs than protecting democracy. We see this anti-voter, anti-democracy agenda, session after session in our State House. That is why we must take action to undo these devastating rulings by passing the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.”
Senator Rebecca Perkins Kwoka (D-Portsmouth) added, “Today, the Supreme Court made it clear that democracy is not for everyone. While the system may work for billionaire donors, it is leaving behind our communities where the right to vote is under attack. It works for corporate special interests, but not for main street small businesses. Democracy needs to work for everyday people, the people who keep our country and state going. The continued gutting of the historic Voting Rights Act of 1965 is dangerous and deeply concerning especially in light of the radical legislation being passed around the country. Our work to create a just and fair society is far from over. We have work to do and it starts with passing the For the People Act and John Lewis Voting Rights Act at the federal level.”
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