On August 6, 1965, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act into law. During the signing ceremony, President Johnson referred to the Act as “one of the most monumental laws in the entire history of American freedom.” Over the past fifty years, the Supreme Court has issued numerous decisions on various aspects of the Voting Rights Act, Congress has amended it several times, and it remains an important component of public debate. This panel – the first programming for the new AALS Section on Election Law – will explore the many facets of that debate. The panel will analyze the current issues regarding voting rights, from the Supreme Court’s recent invalidation of the Section 4 coverage formula in its Shelby County decision – essentially rendering Section 5 inoperable – to Congress’s consideration of a Voting Rights Act Amendment, to the report of the bipartisan Presidential Commission on Election Administration. Part of this inquiry will include a discussion of whether we have reached the ideals President Johnson aspired to 50 years ago when he signed this Act, and where we should go from here in protecting and effectuating the right to vote.
Business meeting at program conclusion.