WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) this week released the following statement regarding the Supreme Court’s decision to stay the ruling of the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals in Louis Duke v. State of North Carolina:
“I am deeply disappointed with the Supreme Court’s decision to stay the 4th Circuit’s decision in Louis Duke v. North Carolina. The Supreme Court is continuing to dismantle the Voting Rights Act, which is a signal to states to pass discriminatory elections laws. There is a concerted effort to dilute the vote of minority citizens by erecting procedural hurdles that discourage them from voting. If we believe that an active and engaged electorate is a key element of the American experience and crucial to the health of our society, it is essential that courts end these discriminatory practices and fully restore the right to vote.
“The Supreme Court’s regressive decision is a step in the wrong direction. While this certainly is an unexpected and unwelcomed hurdle, I remain positive that the cases challenging North Carolina’s Voter ID law will succeed on its merits at trial and all North Carolinians will once again enjoy their full, unobstructed Constitutional right to participate in our electoral process.”