Voting and Civil Rights Groups Respond to Flawed Trial Court Opinion on New York Voting Rights Act

Read a PDF of our statement here.

On Nov. 7, a New York State Supreme Court trial judge in Orange County issued an opinion striking down the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of New York (NYVRA). Today, the Legal Defense Fund (LDF), American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), LatinoJustice PRLDEF, Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), New York American Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU), and Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law issued the following statement in response to the ruling:

"The NYVRA is unquestionably constitutional, and protects the freedom to vote for all New Yorkers by helping to ensure voters are not subjected to discrimination when participating in the political process.

"The Nov. 7 decision by a state trial judge is deeply flawed and plainly incorrect. We fully expect the decision to be reversed on appeal. It flies in the face of basic legal principles and constitutes a stunning overreach in striking down the entire law, including provisions that are not at issue in the case.

"To put it simply, the NYVRA does not discriminate, it bans discrimination - and in doing so protects New Yorkers' most fundamental right.

"New York is stronger when everyone has an equal opportunity to vote."