House Concurrent Resolution 1

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING CONGRESS TO AMEND THE FEDERAL VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965 TO REMOVE THE REPEALER ON THE PRECLEARANCE REQUIREMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

WHEREAS, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 imposes a preclearance requirement that states must submit changes in their internal voting and election laws to the United States Attorney General for prior approval for certification that such laws or practices does not have the purpose or effect of denying or abridging the right to vote on account of race or color; and

WHEREAS, this process is necessary to ensure fair and equal changes to the voting and election practices implemented by the states; and

WHEREAS, allowing the preclearance section to repeal would diminish the right of the citizens of the United States to enjoy free, fair and nondiscriminatory elections and would lessen the force and effect of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby request the United States Congress to consider amending the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 to remove the repealer on the preclearance requirement.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Legislatures of every state of the nation are hereby urged to join in this recommendation to the United States Congress.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution shall be officially transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, to each member of the Mississippi congressional delegation, to each of the Legislatures of the several states of the Union and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.