Supreme Court leaves ruling that ends private VRA suits in seven states
The Supreme Court declined to review an 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision, leaving in place a ruling that removes the private right to sue under parts of the Voting Rights Act in Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota. The appeals court held that private plaintiffs cannot bring enforcement suits under Section 208 of the Voting Rights Act, the provision that requires ballot assistance for voters with disabilities or who cannot read or write. As a result, only the U.S. attorney general and other federal officials retain direct enforcement authority under those provisions within the 8th Circuit, narrowing legal avenues to challenge inaccessible or discriminatory voting practices. Minnesota passed a 2024 state voting-rights law that restores private enforcement there, but voters and advocacy groups in the other six states now face fewer tools to secure remedies for voting access violations.
SCOTUS just found a way to strike yet another blow to the VRA. In brief, their move means that, within the 8th circuit, there is no more right for individuals or organizations to sue over violations of Section 208, which among other things protects people with disability.
One important note: One of the states within the 8th circuit, Minnesota, passed its own voting rights act in 2024, specifically with an eye to countering this coming threat and allowing individuals and third-party groups to sue over voting rights violations. boltsmag.org/minnesota-vo...
Ten states that have passed VRAs..