Shelby County takes Voting Rights Act to Supreme Court | News

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC)- Shelby County leaders will make their case before the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday. They are arguing that Section 4-B and Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act should be declared unconstitutional.

Those areas of the legislation require certain jurisdictions get pre-clearance before they make any changes to voting procedures. That includes complex things like re-drawing voting districts or simple items like moving a polling place. Because Shelby County has a history of discriminatory voting practices, they fall under the pre-clearance requirements. County leaders say that means added expenses; opponents say cost should not be a consideration.

"There are an incredible amount of legal fees that get tied up in it, and that's not to include the staff time," said Shelby County Commissioner Corley Ellis.

"I just don't want to take away this safety net yet, until it's been proven that we're not going to have to endure what we endured in the past," said Harry Jones.

The court heard arguments this morning. A decision is expected sometime in June.

Copyright 2013 WBRC. All rights reserved.