Black Americans Will Not Lose
Their Right to Vote in 2007
For Immediate Release - March, 2003

Some constituents have contacted Congressman McDermott's office about a rumor that Black American citizens will lose their right to vote in 2007. It's not true. All citizens are guaranteed the right to vote in the U.S. Constitution. The Voting Rights Act was passed in 1965 to help enforce the right to vote at a time when, in some parts of the United States, Black Americans were victims of terrible discrimination if they tried to register or vote.

The Voting Rights Act is a permanent law that never expires. Two requirements in the law, one placing federal examiners and observers at polling places in certain states and the other requiring certain state governments to get approval from the U.S. Department of Justice for any changes in their voting rules, do come up for renewal periodically. The next time they are up for renewal is 2007. These special rules have never applied to Washington State. Congress can renew the rules if it believes that the states where the special rules now apply still need to have federal examiners and observers and Justice Department approval of their voting rules.

Contact Congressman McDermott's District Office at 206- 553-7170 for more information about the Voting Rights Act. You may also visit the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division Voting Section at: