A New York State Supreme Court judge has invalidated the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act (NYVRA), a law Democrats used to push local governments into adopting progressive policies, including those supporting illegal immigrants. The ruling declared the law unconstitutional, citing violations of the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.
Enacted in 2022, the NYVRA required towns with alleged histories of discrimination to seek state approval before changing their voting systems. It became a legal weapon against municipalities with at-large systems, with lawsuits demanding single-member districts to boost minority representation.
Court strikes down New York's John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act https://t.co/Kro3s1rQ9O
— Ron Tourmaline (@mkardn) November 9, 2024
One such case involved Newburgh, where plaintiffs argued the at-large system diluted Black and Hispanic voting power. They sought to divide the town into single-member districts to elect minority candidates. The court rejected this, ruling that the NYVRA improperly classified people based on race and national origin, making it unconstitutional.
Mount Pleasant faced a similar lawsuit. Hispanic plaintiffs claimed their voting power was undermined by the town’s at-large system, despite Sleepy Hollow, a part of Mount Pleasant, having its own government. Critics noted that Mount Pleasant had recently declared it would not accept illegal immigrants due to resource constraints, suggesting the lawsuit aimed to pressure the town to reverse its stance.
I’m here to say the quiet part out loud. The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act is NOT about protecting voting rights.
❌ It’s about solidifying Democrat power nationally.
❌ It’s about federal control over state and local elections.
❌ It’s about diminishing the… pic.twitter.com/4laXuaGBxY
— Wesley Hunt (@WesleyHuntTX) March 12, 2024
Parts of New York's John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act violate the U.S. Constitution, judge rules. https://t.co/ZLJXPOEnIk pic.twitter.com/Vep9lDgzrI
— Joe (@9Joe9) November 8, 2024
The judge’s decision to strike down the NYVRA ensures towns retain control over their election systems. Conservatives argue the law was designed to impose progressive agendas, including policies favoring illegal immigration, on resistant communities.
This ruling marks a significant victory for local governments defending their autonomy. By eliminating the NYVRA, the court has protected towns from being coerced into policies that conflict with the will of their residents. It reinforces the principle that governance should serve the people, not partisan agendas.
