On 5th Anniversary of Shelby County Decision, Hirono Decries Further Erosion of Voting Rights

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement to mark the fifth anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision to destroy key provisions of the Voting Rights Act in Shelby County v. Holder, and today’s ruling to further restrict voting rights in Abbot v. Perez.

“Since Shelby County gutted the Voting Rights Act five years ago, many states have tried to roll back voter protections,” Senator Hirono said. “Today’s shameful decision in Abbot v. Perez allows Texas to implement racially discriminatory districts and represents another step backwards for voting rights. Congress must act immediately to undo Shelby County and protect the fundamental right of all Americans to have their vote counted.”

Senator Hirono is a cosponsor of Senator Patrick Leahy’s (D-Vt.) Voting Rights Advancement Act, which would restore the protections eroded by the Supreme Court in Shelby County v. Holder.

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