The Justice Department (DOJ), filed a Federal Lawsuit against Texas' Galveston County, on Thursday, alleging the Redistricting Plan for its County Government, Discriminates against Black and Hispanic Voters.
This marks the Third lawsuit the DOJ has filed in Texas, related to Voting Rights in recent months, as the DOJ ramps up Challenges to Republican-led efforts around the Nation to Restrict Voting access.
The DOJ Sued the Georgia last year, after it passed New Restrictions on Voting access, and it has reached Consent Decrees on Voting Rights issues with: Louisiana, New Jersey, and New York.
Thursday's Lawsuit contends that Galveston County's 2021 Redistricting Plan for its Governing Body, known as the Commissioners Court, Violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) because the New Plan was adopted with a Discriminatory purpose and Denies Black and Hispanic Citizens, an Equal Opportunity to participate in the Political Process.
Specifically, the Lawsuit alleges that Officials within the Republican-dominated County deliberately Redrew the Lines to Eliminate the Only Precinct that was previously made up of a Majority of Black and Hispanic Residents.
Today, with Section 2 the Only remaining VRA Provision available, to Fight in Federal Courts, allegedly Racial Discriminatory Maps, the DOJ has the Burden of proving Racial Redistricting Plans violate Federal Law, as Opposed to the past, States and Local Governments being required to First Demonstrate they are Legal.
"This action is the latest demonstration of the Justice Department's commitment to protecting the voting rights of all Americans, particularly during the current redistricting cycle," Assistant Attorney General, Kristen Clarke, said in a Statement. "We will continue to use all available tools to challenge voting discrimination in our country."
During a Public Meeting in November, 2021, Commissioner Stephen Holmes, the only Democrat and Minority Member of the Commissioners Court, had called on his Constituents to contact the DOJ to Complain about the New Map. The Lawsuit alleges that Holmes was Excluded from any Involvement in Redrawing the Districts.
"Over the course of the past three decades," the Lawsuit says, "Galveston County has sought to eliminate electoral opportunities for the County's Black and Hispanic voters. The County has a long history of adopting discriminatory redistricting plans."
The DOJ is asking the Federal District Court, to Block Galveston County, from conducting Elections under the Challenged Plan, and to Order the County to Redraw its Plan to comply with Section 2.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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