ALBANY, N.Y. — A judge has ruled the John Lewis Voting Rights Act of New York (NYVRA) unconstitutional, striking down protections against voter discrimination based on race, ethnicity, or language. On Nov. 7, New York State Supreme Court Judge Maria Vazquez-Doles determined the law failed to meet constitutional standards, violating the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause. She found the law did not address concrete examples of discrimination and did not meet the strict scrutiny standard set by previous rulings.

The NYVRA, enacted in 2022, allowed minorities to challenge “at-large” voting systems that they argued diluted their votes. In the case, six Newburgh residents claimed the town’s system disenfranchised Black and Hispanic voters. However, Vazquez-Doles ruled that the law lacked a specific example of discrimination, unlike federal protections which require clear proof of racially polarized voting.

The ruling halts enforcement of the NYVRA, though an appeal is expected. Civil rights groups, including the ACLU and the Brennan Center, criticized the decision, calling it an overreach and vowing to seek a reversal.

Source: WETM