The absurdity of the law does trouble a few, like Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, R-Ga. Section 5 of the Act was an "emergency" five-year provision aimed at the South. If a county met certain criteria, it would be subject to pre-clearance by the Justice Department before any changes could be made in election procedures. The criteria were 1) whether a test or device had been used to limit voting in past elections; and 2) if fewer than 50 percent of registered voters had shown up at the last presidential election. African-American turnout in the last two presidential elections has exceeded white turnout in Georgia. Of 34 statewide offices, nine are held by blacks; including the post of attorney general. Under the terms of the Voting Rights Act, if a covered county wishes to move a polling place from an elementary school across the street to a library, it must first get the Justice Department's permission. These days, the local official seeking such clearance is almost as likely to be black as white.
Westmoreland's aide Brian Robinson notes, "When a young African American graduates from school, one of the likeliest places he or she will go to live is Atlanta. DeKalb County is the second wealthiest black county in the nation." More preposterous is the fact that if the law is renewed, turnout in the Goldwater/Johnson race will continue to affect voting procedures until 2032!
The Civil Rights Commission issued a report in the spring finding that "The Justice Department's enforcement record has shown sharply diminishing activity over the last 40 years during both Democratic and Republican administrations. The percentage of objections interposed has become vanishingly small over the last decade."
Of course. And yet this clearly outdated law -- whose passage would reinforce false claims of continuing white racism by the usual suspects -- was headed for easy passage until someone noticed the bit about multilingual ballots. Under Section 203, ballots and election materials in districts with large immigrant populations must be provided in the immigrants' native tongue. This, in a nation that (at least nominally) requires mastery of English for naturalization. At last, Republicans have found their voices and are raising a cry. Consideration of the bill has been postponed to mid-July, and there is hope that it will not pass in its current form.