Encouraging New Decisions for North Dakota and Louisiana Push Back on the U.S. Eighth Circuit’s “No Right of Private Action” Voting Rights Act Ruling

Last week we reported on the aftershocks of an Arkansas racial gerrymandering case, where the U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals decided voters and groups had “No private right of action” under the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Two rulings issued Friday, December 15th pushed back on that radical decision.

Radical Decision by Appeals Court in Arkansas Case Greenlights North Dakota Appeal to Restore Maps Designed to Suppress Native American Voting Power

A radical decision last week in an Arkansas racial gerrymandering case stopped voters and democracy groups from suing under the 1965 Voting Rights Act. The State of North Dakota took advantage of the decision to appeal to have their racially discriminating gerrymandered maps restored, struck down after a lower court found they suppressed Native American voting power.

Federal Judge Throws Out Arizona’s Additional Proof-of-Citizenship Requirements for Federal Election-Only Voter Registration Form

Arizona has a type of voter registration form which allows citizens to register only for Presidential elections, often used by Native Americans. Gov. Doug Ducey signed House Bill 2492 last year, adding more proof of citizenship requirements when using this federal form. Last week, a federal judge threw out many of those new requirements.