Title
Consider taking a position on Assembly Bill 280, by Assembly Member Luis Alejo (D-30), regarding voting rights, which would establish a state preclearance system applicable only to Monterey, Kings and Yuba Counties. (ADDED VIA ADDENDUM)
Report
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors consider taking a position on Assembly Bill 280, by Assembly Member Luis Alejo (D-30), regarding voting rights, which would establish a state preclearance system applicable only to Monterey, Kings and Yuba Counties.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION
Assembly Member Luis Alejo (D-30) introduced legislation, Assembly Bill (AB) 280, which pertains to voting rights, and which would establish a state preclearance system applicable only to Monterey, Kings and Yuba Counties.
The Federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 was designed to prohibit and prevent discriminatory voting practices. The Act provides that a change in voting procedures may not take effect in a state or political subdivision that is covered by the preclearance requirements of the Act until the change is approved by a specified federal authority. A state or political subdivision is covered by the preclearance requirements of the Act if it maintained a specified test or device as a prerequisite to voting, and had a low voter registration or turnout, in the 1960s and early 1970s. Since 1971, Monterey County was designated as one of four of the California counties subject to the preclearance requirements of Section 5 of the Act due to California's literacy test and low voter participation in the 1968 presidential election. Kings, Yuba and Merced Counties were also subject to these requirements, although Merced County has since been relieved of this requirement.
In June 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on the case of Shelby County v. Holder, which held that Section 4 (b) of the Act was unconstitutional due to the fact that the voter turnout statistics used to determine coverage were out of date. A...
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