The New York Supreme Court Appellate Division has upheld the constitutionality of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act (NYVRA), which protects against racially discriminatory voting practices. Attorney General Letitia James, who defended the law in Clarke v. Newburgh, praised the decision, emphasizing that it ensures all New Yorkers can fairly participate in elections.
The ruling affirms the law’s prohibition on vote dilution and sends the case back to a lower court to assess whether the Town of Newburgh’s election process violated the NYVRA. James has been a strong advocate for voting rights, successfully defending early mail voting and combating voter intimidation in previous cases.
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