An appellate court on Thursday unanimously upheld the constitutionality of New York State's John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act, overturning a lower court's ruling from November. The law, which was signed by Governor Kathy Hochul in June 2022, is intended to prevent local officials from enacting rules that might suppress people's voting rights because of their race. New York Attorney General Letitia James released the following statement on the ruling by the New York Appellate Court Appellate Division for the Second Department:
Our democracy thrives when all voters, regardless of their background, can make their voices heard at the ballot box. I am pleased with today's decision upholding the constitutionality of New York's John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act so that all New York voters can fairly and equally participate in our elections. My office will always protect and defend the constitutionality of our laws and New Yorkers' most sacred right to vote.
