As you may already know, President Bush today signed into law the bill that keeps the expiring portions of the Voting Rights Act on the books for another 25 years.

But what's been more surprising has been the speed with which the bill moved through the Senate last week. That story illustrates how Congress can do amazing things in an election year.

After all these months of pushing, then the last minute worries that certain obstructionists on the Hill would block it, we've finally reached our goal.  Today President Bush, surrounded by a large group of civil rights and congressional leaders, signed the Voting Rights Act extension, protecting its provisions for another 25 years.

Thanks to President Bush for seeing this legislation through, and thanks to all the Common Cause activists out there who answered our calls to write, phone, email, and shout at your legislators to make this happen.

The House is scheduled to vote today on HR 9, legislation renewing and strengthening the landmark Voting Rights Act  Rep.

Voting Rights Act of 1965 played a major role in protecting the voting rights of African-Americans, Latinos and people who are not fully proficient in English.  Many credit the act as the most effective civil rights bill enacted in American history.

Call your representative NOW at (202) 224-3121. Tell your representative:  I urge you to fully support H.R. 9 and oppose any harmful amendments.

Being from Texas myself, I know firsthand some of the downright silly things that can come out of peoples' mouths down there.  However, this editorial from the University of Texas-Austin newspaper highlighting some choice quotes from Representative John Carter (R-TX) regarding his opposition to renewing the Voting Rights Act left even me with my jaw on the floor.

While the Supreme Court decision on Texas redistricting, League of United Latin American Citizens v. Perry, was disappointing, the Court's decision has forced Voting Rights Act (VRA) renewal into media discussion.

The New York Times editorializes that the Court failed to come up with a constitutional test regarding interpretation of the VRA and redistricting.

The Chicago Tribune argues that the VRA should be renewed 'without delay."

Charles Babington writes in the Washington Post that the Republican's failure to renew the VRA will have consequences on its efforts to court Latino voters.

Bob Ray Sanders writes in the Fort Worth Star Telegram that the Texas decision proves that the VRA needs to be renewed, asserting:

The Miami Herald agrees with Sanders writing that the Texas decision "reaffirms the validity of the Voting Rights Act."

While this was a bad week for electoral reform, there are certainly positives that can come out of this.

Through the weekend and into this morning there were many editorials on voting rights. The U.S. House's failure to vote on Voting Rights Act renewal (H.R. 9) last Wednesday spurred debate on op-ed pages throughout the country.  I found most of the voting rights coverage frustrating. The debate and commentary over voting rights issues is generally being viewed through political rather than substantive goggles. Granted, infighting and electoral significance drive media coverage of politics. Nevertheless, it disappoints me that editorials on voting rights mostly lack substance. The focus is generally significance for the November elections or President Bush's approval rating. Thankfully, there has been some substance in editorials.

The U.S. Senate judiciary committee is meeting tomorrow (21 June) for another hearing on VRA renewal at 2 PM eastern. The provisions set to expire are:  Section 5, requiring Department of Justice approval for changes in voting procedures in regions with a history of discrimination; Sections 6 - 9, allowing the U.S. Attorney to act if there is evidence of minority voter intimidation; and Section 203, requiring bilingual ballots in districts with high levels of non-English speakers.

There have also been recent editorials of note arguing for VRA renewal (click to read more).