Black Politics Now
  • Home
  • Business
  • Civil Rights
  • Criminal Justice
  • Education
  • Elections
  • Health
  • Policy
  • Reparations
  • Voter Rights
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Register
Black Politics Now
  • Home
  • Business
  • Civil Rights
  • Criminal Justice
  • Education
  • Elections
  • Health
  • Policy
  • Reparations
  • Voter Rights
No Result
View All Result
Black Politics Now
No Result
View All Result

Judge strikes down New York law intended to protect minority groups’ voting power

Black Politics Now by Black Politics Now
November 10, 2024
in Voter Rights
0
On Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, voters cast their ballots at the Bronx County Supreme Court in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

On Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, voters cast their ballots at the Bronx County Supreme Court in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

74
SHARES
1.2k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Nov 10, 2024 Story by: Editor

You might also like

Alabama seeks to take redistricting case appeal back to SCOTUS

Baltimore County Redistricting Commission approves new 9-district map

District court rejects federal challenge upholding Arkansas congressional map, rejecting racial gerrymandering claims

A state judge has invalidated a New York law intended to make it easier for residents to sue over electoral divisions and voting practices that might weaken the political representation of minority groups. The ruling, issued by Orange County State Court Justice Maria Vazquez-Doles, found that providing special protections based on race and ethnicity under the law is unconstitutional.

Justice Vazquez-Doles’ decision, delivered on Thursday, also dismissed a lawsuit from six Black and Hispanic voters in Newburgh, New York, who challenged the town’s “at-large” board election system. They argued that the system in the majority-white town limited Black and Hispanic residents’ ability to elect candidates who represented them. The plaintiffs sought to have board members elected by district in Newburgh, which is located around 60 miles north of New York City.

The New York Voting Rights Act of 2022 was created to allow voters to challenge at-large elections that led to racially polarized voting patterns or hindered a racial, ethnic, or language-group community’s chances of electing their representatives.

However, Justice Vazquez-Doles ruled that this part of the Act violated the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment. The U.S. Supreme Court referenced the same clause when it ruled last year that affirmative action programs in higher education were unconstitutional.

The plaintiffs’ attorney has indicated they plan to appeal the ruling. “We are confident that the New York Voting Rights Act is constitutional, and that on appeal that belief will be vindicated,” attorney David Imamura said.

The lawsuit, filed in March, was one of several brought under New York’s Voting Rights Act. In her ruling, Vazquez-Doles explained that the equal protection clause allows for race-based government actions only if they address a compelling state interest.

While ending discrimination against a racial group might satisfy that requirement, Vazquez-Doles noted that New York’s law did not require proof of past discrimination in challenges to electoral systems. She further suggested that the law could hypothetically allow white voters to request changes to election systems if they felt their voting power had been diluted.

“No compelling interest — as that term has been defined by the U.S. Supreme Court’s interpretation of the Equal Protection Clause — exists in protecting the voting rights of any group that has historically never been discriminated against,” Vazquez-Doles wrote.

She also pointed out that the law lacked clear standards on how much dilution of a group’s voting power would constitute a rights violation.

New York was among several Democratic-majority states that enacted voting protections in response to restrictive voting laws in some Republican-led states and failed voting rights legislation in Congress.

“When New York enacted the strongest voting rights law in the country, we knew there would be challenges,” said state Sen. Zellnor Myrie, a sponsor of the bill, in a statement on Friday. “I disagree with the court’s legal reasoning and expect this decision will be overturned on appeal.” Source: AP News

Tags: Judge rules against New York voting lawMinority voting protection lawNew York voting law struck downVoting rights New York legal ruling
Share30Tweet19
Black Politics Now

Black Politics Now

Recommended For You

Alabama seeks to take redistricting case appeal back to SCOTUS

by Black Politics Now
June 10, 2025
0
The U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, captured on Nov. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

Alabama has started appealing the lengthy redistricting fight, aiming to bring the racial discrimination case back to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Read moreDetails

Baltimore County Redistricting Commission approves new 9-district map

by Black Politics Now
June 11, 2025
0
Baltimore County redistricting commission narrows focus as deadline approaches

Baltimore County’s independent Redistricting Commission voted 4–3 to approve a sweeping new map on Monday, June 10, that expands County Council districts from seven to nine.

Read moreDetails

District court rejects federal challenge upholding Arkansas congressional map, rejecting racial gerrymandering claims

by Black Politics Now
June 10, 2025
0
Exterior view of the Richard Sheppard Arnold Federal Courthouse located in downtown Little Rock. (Photo by John Sykes/Arkansas Advocate)

A three-judge federal panel on Friday, June 6, dismissed a lawsuit challenging Arkansas's congressional redistricting, ruling in favor of the state and concluding that plaintiffs failed to provide...

Read moreDetails

Federal lawsuit alleges racial discrimination in Tarrant County redistricting map

by Black Politics Now
June 11, 2025
0
Tarrant County Commissioners to vote on redistricting plan on Tuesday

A coalition of Tarrant County residents has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the county's newly adopted Commissioners Court precinct map, alleging intentional racial discrimination that violates the Voting...

Read moreDetails

Alabama considers deferring redistricting until 2030 amid federal oversight concerns

by Black Politics Now
May 31, 2025
0
Jemma Stephenson/Alabama Reflector

The Alabama Attorney General’s Office said Wednesday the state may forgo drawing new congressional district maps before 2030 to prevent federal oversight of future redistricting.

Read moreDetails
Next Post
A boy plays with an abandoned tire at a border encampment near the southeastern Haitian town of Anse-à-Pitres. (Photo: Dave McFadden/AP)

Haitian activists demand halt to deportations as poverty soar

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

ADVERTISEMENT

Related News

Cori Bush speaks outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., following the removal of a pro-Palestinian tent encampment at George Washington University by police, during which demonstrators were arrested [File: Jose Luis Magana/AP].

Cori Bush loses primary after pro-Israel groups spend millions to oust ‘Squad’ member

October 12, 2024
Photo illustration by ProPublica. Source images: Eric Lee and Chris Goodney/Bloomberg via Getty Images.

Review by US Senate finds more unreported luxury trips by Clarence Thomas

February 13, 2025
Pollution from accumulated rubbish and various wastes is seen in Jabalia, Gaza, on March 13, 2025. [Mahmoud İssa/Anadolu Agency]

US and Israel engage East African nations on resettling displaced Palestinians

March 16, 2025
Black Politics Now

Get informed on African American politics with "Black Politics Now," your ultimate source for political engagement.

CATEGORIES

  • Business
  • Civil Rights
  • Congressional Black Caucus
  • Criminal Justice
  • Data
  • Department of Justice
  • Diversity Initiatives
  • Education
  • Elections
  • Enviroment
  • Equity
  • Hate Crimes
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Investigations
  • Legal Defense Fund
  • NAACP
  • Policy
  • Real Estate
  • Reparations
  • Research
  • Sports
  • State Issues
  • Study
  • Supreme Court
  • Technology
  • Voter Rights
  • World

Quick Link

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of service
  • Contact us

Download Our App

© 2024 Black Politics Now | All Right Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Business
  • Civil Rights
  • Criminal Justice
  • Education
  • Elections
  • Health
  • Policy
  • Reparations
  • Voter Rights
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Cart
SUBSCRIBE

© 2024 Black Politics Now | All Right Reserved

Join the Movement, Subscribe Now!(Don't worry, we'll never spam you!)

Don’t miss a beat—get the latest news, inspiring stories, and in-depth coverage of the issues that matter most to the Black community. Be part of the conversation and stay connected.

Enter your email address