Title
To recognize and commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Body
WHEREAS, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was signed into law by United States President Lyndon B. Johnson on August 5th, 1965; and
WHEREAS, the Act, prohibits racial discrimination in voting; and
WHEREAS, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 prohibits states from imposing any voting qualifications or prerequisites to voting, nor, to deny or abridge the right of any citizen of the United States to vote on account of race or color; and
WHEREAS, The Act banned the use of literacy tests and provided the Federal Government with dominion and oversight over voter registration in areas where less than fifty percent of the minorities population had not registered to vote; and
WHEREAS, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, also authorized the United States Attorney General to investigate the use of poll taxes in state and local elections; and
WHEREAS, Fifty years later, the Voting Rights Act is still an essential piece of legislation that has been renewed four times since its passing, most recently in 2006 and is set to expire in 2031; and
WHEREAS, The Voting Rights Act of 1965 enables the Department of Justice to protect the rights of citizens from voter discrimination by providing election day monitors and language assistance for those who cannot read the ballots;
WHEREAS, we recognize the great contributions and achievements of our government leaders and civil rights activists for promoting and encouraging participation in the democratic system and defending voter rights; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
That we recognize and commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.