Mar 2, 2021 - Politics & Policy

Supreme Court likely to favor Republican-backed Arizona voting laws

Oriana González

A person walking outside of the Supreme Court building on Feb. 22. — A person walking outside of the Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 22.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday appeared to favor Republican-backed voting restrictions in Arizona that Democrats argue violate the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the Washington Post reports.

Why it matters: The Justices' decision in the case could weaken Section 2 of the VRA, which prohibits voting practices or procedures that discriminate on the basis of race.

Context: The case, Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee, questions whether two Arizona voting laws violate that section of the VRA.

One allows ballots that were cast in the wrong precinct to be thrown out, and the other prohibits anyone other than a family member from delivering a voter's absentee ballot.

The big picture: The state of Arizona and Republicans support the laws, arguing they are meant to prevent fraud, according to NBC News.

Democrats on the other hand believe the laws should be overturn because they believe they prevent voters, particularly minorities, from voting.

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Supreme Court likely to favor Republican-backed Arizona voting laws

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