Struggle & Resistance Achievement & Excellence

July 2021

In Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee, decided July 1, 2021, the Supreme Court (6-3) upheld two Arizona voting restrictions: a law discarding ballots cast in wrong precincts, and a ban on third-party ballot collection (so-called 'ballot harvesting'). Justice Alito's majority opinion introduced new, non-statutory factors courts should weigh under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, including the 'mere inconvenience' of voting requirements, making future challenges harder. Justice Kagan's dissent said the Court had 'damaged a statute designed to bring about the end of racially discriminatory voting.' The ruling was the most significant weakening of Section 2 since Shelby County v. Holder (2013).

Events

July 1, 2021
Supreme Court Further Weakens Voting Rights Act in Brnovich v. DNC
In Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee, decided July 1, 2021, the Supreme Court (6-3) upheld two Arizona voting restrictions: a law discarding ballots cast in wrong precincts, and a ban on third-party ballot collection (so-called 'ballot harvesting'). Justice Alito's majority opinion introduced new, non-statutory factors courts should weigh under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, including the 'mere inconvenience' of voting requirements, making future challenges harder. Justice Kagan's dissent said the Court had 'damaged a statute designed to bring about the end of racially discriminatory voting.' The ruling was the most significant weakening of Section 2 since Shelby County v. Holder (2013).