The League of Women Voters of Washington joins with the League of Women Voters of the United States and the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights in condemning the Supreme Court’s action Wednesday that effectively guts a provision of the landmark Voting Rights Act that prevents racial discrimination.

In rendering Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act ineffective, the court has removed the most important tool of the 1965 civil rights law that ensured Black voters and other voters of color had equal opportunity in redistricting and elections. This ruling has opened a path to significant changes in representation. 

The League and its members reject racial discrimination and we will fight with great fervor for a multi-racial democracy in which all of us have an equal voice.

Moreover, the League has long opposed redistricting for partisan gain and believes redistricting should represent the needs of communities. Finally, as it has for more than 106 years, the League remains dedicated to empowering everyone to participate fully in our democracy.