Thread by @MuellerSheWrote

THREAD: REMARKS BY MERRICK GARLAND: "Today, the Justice Department has filed suit against the state of Texas for violating section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. 1/

"As the Supreme Court has observed, the core principal of our democracy is that voters should choose their representatives, not the other way around. Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act requires that state voting laws - including laws that draw electoral maps - 2/

"...provide eligible voters with the equal opportunity to participate in the democratic process and elect representatives of THEIR choosing. 3/

"The complaint we filed today alleges that Texas has violated section 2 by creating redistricting plans that deny or abridge the rights of latino and black voters to vote on account of their race, color, or membership in a language minority group. 4/

"As many of you know, in 2013 the Supreme Court effectively eliminated the pre-clearance provisions of The Voting Rights Act, which had been The Department's best tool for protecting voting rights. 5/

"Earlier this year I noted that this redistricting cycle would be the first to proceed since 1960 without the protection of pre-clearance, but I also said The Department would use all available authorities and resources to continue protecting the right to vote. 6/

"In Sept, The Department published guidance based on decades of precedent explaining that section 2 prohibits vote dilution. Vote dilution occurs when an electoral practice minimizes or cancels out the voting strength of members of a racial group or language minority group. 7/

"When we issued that guidance, I noted that discriminatory redistricting schemes are illegal, and that The Department would assess jurisdictions compliance with those laws during this redistricting cycle. 8/

"The Department's career voting law experts have assessed Texas' new redistricting plans, and determined that they include districts that violate the Voting Rights Act. 9/

"Last month we filed a separate lawsuit against the state of Texas alleging that Texas SB1 improperly restricts the assistance voters who have a disability or who are unable to read or write can receive in the voting booth. 10/

"Last week, we filed a statement of interest in Arizona litigation to explain that private plaintiffs had plausibly alleged that certain new voting laws in that state were passed with a discriminatory purpose. 11/

"We also filed a statement of interest in Florida litigation explaining - among other things - that private parties can bring claims to enforce the Voting Rights Act. In all these matters, we have carefully assessed the facts and the law before taking action. 12/

"I am grateful to the dedicated staff of the voting section for their work today and every day to protect the right of all eligible citizens to vote. I want to AGAIN urge congress to restore the Justice Department's pre-clearance authority. 13/

"Were that pre-clearance tool still in place, we would likely not be here today announcing this complaint." END