Very soon after part of Voting Rights Act was struck down by the Supreme Court several states moved to restrict voting rights with the new-found freedom that they believed the court had given them.

For example, here is Congressman Lamar Smith (R-Texas):

In June, the Supreme Court found that it was unconstitutional to hold Texas and several other states to a different standard in the Voting Rights Act. The Court found that the actions of the past could not be held against current and future generations. The result of the decision is that Texas is no longer required to seek pre-clearance from the Justice Department before voting rights laws can be implemented.

In other words, the Supreme Court message to the Justice Department was clear – don’t mess with Texas. But Eric Holder and the Justice Department aren’t listening. …

The bold in the quote above is my emphasis because that part is clearly wrong.

It is important to note that the Supreme Court only struck down the requirement that some (but not all) jurisdictions be subject to pre-clearance by the Justice department for any voting change because those jurisdictions were identified using 40 year old data.

The Court upheld all other aspects of the Voting Rights Act and clearly did not give states the freedom to restrict voting in any way they choose. All states (even Texas) are subject to the Voting Rights Act.

I think Eric Holder and the Justice Department are listening and doing the right thing .