On Aug. 6, Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer (D) signed legislation making Delaware the 12th state to enact a state-level voting rights act.
Since the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which prohibits racial discrimination in voting nationwide, some states have enacted state-level voting rights acts. The provisions of these laws vary, but they generally include policies that mirror or expand on the federal Voting Rights Act. Those policies apply to local governments in the state.
House Bill 444 prohibits local or state agencies from engaging in voter suppression, which is defined as any election policy or practice that creates a material disparity affecting the voter participation of protected class members or the impairment of the equal opportunity of protected class members to participate in the political process.
