Court Curbs Private Voting Rights Lawsuits | JQJO

A federal appeals court ruled that private citizens can no longer sue over alleged racial discrimination in election policies under the Voting Rights Act (VRA), a significant setback for voting rights. The decision leaves enforcement solely to the US Attorney General, a concerning development given the current Justice Department's reduced focus on civil rights. This ruling, impacting seven midwestern states, overturns decades of precedent allowing private lawsuits under the VRA. The decision stems from a lawsuit alleging North Dakota discriminated against Native Americans in redistricting. Critics argue this will severely weaken the VRA's enforcement.