(New York, NY) - The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (LDF), announces the release of "Tearing Down Obstacles to Democracy & Protecting Minority Voters", a guide which highlights a core feature of the Voting Rights Act -- the Section 5 preclearance provision. 
 
John Payton, Director-Counsel and President of LDF observed that "no federal civil rights law has done more to secure African-American access to the ballot box than the Voting Rights Act of 1965.  Our democratic process requires aggressive enforcement of the Section 5 preclearance provision to ensure that we ferret out changes that may make it more difficult for minority voters to participate effectively."  Payton noted that "LDF's guide will facilitate enforcement of the federal preclearance process by providing citizens with the tools necessary to use the law as a shield on behalf of minority voters." 
 
The guide provides practical information about how the law can be used to combat voting discrimination and urges citizens to become active participants in the preclearance process, by actively monitoring the voting changes being undertaken in their communities.  The release of LDF's guide also comes on the heels of the D.C. District Court's recent ruling in Northwest Austin Municipal Utility District Number One v. Mukasey, in which a three-judge panel soundly rejected a constitutional attack on the preclearance provision.

  The case will be heard by the Supreme Court next year.
 
The guide's release comes as voters prepare to cast ballots in a high interest election where no sitting President or Vice President is running for office.  The period preceding major elections is often met by efforts to impair minority voting strength or depress minority voter participation rates which may result in an increase in the number of voting changes submitted for federal preapproval. The guide provides information on how individuals, community groups and advocates can use this key federal law to protect minority voters.
 
An electronic copy of the guide can be downloaded from LDF's website at www.naacpldf.org.  Go to the Publications link and select the Case and Issues Related Publication sublink or send an email to [email protected]

 

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ABOUT LDF
The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (LDF) is America's legal counsel on issues of race. Through advocacy and litigation, LDF focuses on issues of education, voter protection, economic justice and criminal justice. We encourage students to embark on careers in the public interest through scholarships and internship programs. LDF pursues racial justice to move our nation toward a society that fulfills the promise of equality for all.