Protecting the Right to Vote Nationwide

Attorney General Holder Criticizes Wisconsin Voter ID Law, Vows Strong Federal Action to Protect the Right to Vote Nationwide

In this week's message, one year after the Supreme Court struck down a key part of the historic Voting Rights Act of 1965 in Shelby County v. Holder, Attorney General Eric Holder criticized a restrictive voter ID law in Wisconsin that erected significant barriers to equal access without serving any legitimate government interest. In April, a federal district court in Wisconsin ruled that the law, which disproportionately impacted the state's African-American and Latino voters, violated both the equal protection clause of the Constitution and Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which remains in effect. And today, Attorney General Holder made clear that the Department of Justice will continue to use all remaining voting rights protections, including Section 2, in order to stand against disenfranchisement wherever it exists - and in whatever form.