Golden State Today

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has urged the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit to uphold anti-discrimination protections under the Voting Rights Act. Attorney General Bonta, along with a coalition of 19 attorneys general, filed an amicus brief in Grant, et al., v. Secretary of State of Georgia, to emphasize the significance of civic engagement for all voters, regardless of race, color, or membership in a minority-language group.

In the amicus brief, the coalition highlighted the importance of ensuring that every citizen has the right to vote without facing discrimination. Attorney General Bonta stressed, “The Fifteenth Amendment guarantees all U.S. citizens the right to vote, regardless of race, color, or background. Unfortunately, there are those who believe the only way they can win is by denying access and suppressing voters. Your right to vote shouldn’t be determined by the language you speak, color of your skin, or race. My office is committed to pushing back against those who seek the disenfranchisement of voters.”

The coalition urges the court to uphold a federal district court's ruling that found Georgia’s congressional and legislative maps to be in violation of Section Two of the Voting Rights Act. This violation is based on the impermissible dilution of minority voting strength within these maps. Section Two of the VRA prohibits voting practices that discriminate on the basis of race, color, or membership in a language minority group, in alignment with the Fifteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

By advocating for the protection of voting rights, Attorney General Bonta and the coalition of attorneys general aim to combat discriminatory voting practices and uphold the principles of democracy. The amicus brief asserts that remedies provided under VRA Section Two, including race-conscious redistricting, are constitutional and grant a private right of action.

The attorneys general supporting Attorney General Bonta in this effort hail from various states across the country, demonstrating a united front in safeguarding anti-discrimination protections under the Voting Rights Act. A copy of the amicus brief filed in Grant, et al., v. Secretary of State of Georgia, is available for review.

This legal action underscores the ongoing commitment to ensuring that every American citizen can exercise their fundamental right to vote without facing discrimination based on race, color, or language minority status.