After hearing arguments Wednesday morning, the U.S. Supreme Court is mulling over the fate of a key provision of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
Justices heard 70 minutes of fast-paced debate.
Meantime, the Democratic leader in the Georgia House believes the provision, which requires Georgia and other states to receive approval by the Justice Department on any new redistricting maps, is still necessary.
While some conservative justices questioned whether the provision has run its course, Abrams says that there are minority groups today in Georgia that are still disenfranchised.
“I think the Voting Rights Act has been the most successful piece of civil rights legislation because instead of waiting for harm to be committed, it requires that the government prove the need to disturb voting rights first,” says House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams.
“Without the Voting Rights Act… I’m very fearful that we’ll slip back in that posture of not necessarily racism, but a posture that denies access because it’s politically inexpedient,” she says.
The justices are expected to make their decision by late June.