Alabama restricting voting rights- Eleni Loving p.1

http://www.npr.org/2015/11/13/455920606/avoiding-a-lawsuit-alabama-agrees-to-comply-with-voting-law

The state of Alabama has agreed to make changes to their voter registration process, to avoid being sued by the US Justice Department. The 1993 Voter Registration Act requires all states to allow people to register to vote when they apply for or renew their drivers license. The point of the law is to make it convenient for voters to exercise their right to vote. However, in Alabama over 30 drivers license offices in rural areas were closed because of budget cuts, and this made it harder for many people to have a way to register to vote or renew their voter registration. Department of Justice said that Alabama was not complying with the law and threatened to sue the state. Alabama officials agreed to change their procedures in offices and online to make it easier for people to register to vote.


I think it's good that the justice department is forcing Alabama to change their system so that the people can continue to easily vote. The right to vote is an issue that has been fought over by so many people. For example in the women's rights movement, and also the right to vote for African American men. It is considered by many, especially in that period as a human right. Because of it being such a struggle, i think that it is wrong for them to hold back any of those voting abilities from the people. It's too bad for them having to make budget cuts, that significant but it's just the wrong place to make them and could jeopardize Alabama's influence.