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Supreme Court to rule on provision in 1965 Voting Rights Act

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    Shannon Bream reports from Washington, D.C.

  • Duration 2:14
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Is -- -- day today at the Supreme Court as a case is about to get under way and it -- a key provision in the voting rights act of 1965.

Shannon Bream is live at a High Court -- -- what is at stake here in this case.

Well -- the purpose of the voting rights act was essentially to remedy discrimination against minority voters -- covers a large swath of the country several states towns and counties are covered meeting.

If -- dad passed history of discrimination you have to come to the day department justice.

Or federal court here in Washington to pre clear any changes you make things like to voting districts voting times.

Well Shelby county Alabama has come here to say listen a lot has changed in fifty years.

We have cleaned up our act and essentially we shouldn't be forced to live under these conditions were were treated differently than other parts of the country here's a bit from their brief.

In their argument today they say sections five and four.

Have accomplished their mission and their encroachment on tenth amendment rights in the constitutional principle of equal sovereignty is no longer appropriate they're saying.

We -- these things it's time to let us be free of the voting rights act you can seat up -- the crowd here today there is a lot of interest dies of very hotly debated contest Martha if indeed it is a hugely controversial issues so there are those of course his stated the bite the voting rights act.

It's still very necessary in the places that they left.

Absolutely they say that these covered jurisdictions have a long history and there is a bailout provision if he can prove that you haven't had problems for ten years.

If you haven't had different reports of discrimination problems minority voters you -- bail -- they're saying let's send.

The bailout option is they are you should exercise and that.

Well the looks of apple the voting rights -- are gonna -- tried to convince the justices today.

That this is still very much necessary -- here's a bit of what they had to say this is the attorney general's brief quote congress.

Accept the zenith of its constitutional authority when it enforces the guarantees of the fourteenth and fifteenth amendments.

By enacting legislation to protect citizens from racial discrimination in voting as it has with section five.

There was a recent case just a few years back -- which the justices touched on these issues seeming to open the door for the possibility that section five -- May be -- -- -- Will have to see but I predict this is going to be a very very close vote when they eventually gets that Martha we'll watch -- closely and I and I US and thank you so much.

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