U.S. Attorney Lowery on voting rights lawsuit against Galveston County: 'We're committed to protecting the voting rights of all of our citizens'

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) brought a voting rights lawsuit against Galveston County on Thursday (March 24) in response to the county's redistricting plan, according to a report from Houston ABC affiliate KTRK. KTRK reported that the Galveston County Commissioners Court adopted the plan on Nov. 12, 2021, following the release of data from the 2020 Census.

The suit accuses Galveston County of violating Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, according to the station. A DOJ-issued press release explained that the plan allegedly denies black and Hispanic citizens an equal opportunity to participate in the democratic process.

According to the complaint, Houston NBC affiliate KPRC reported, Galveston County intentionally modified the commissioners court's lone, longtime minority opportunity-to-elect district to deprive black and Hispanic voters the opportunity to elect their own representative.

The suit points out the county's purported history of attempting to disenfranchise minority voters.

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke with the DOJ's Civil Rights Division said that the suit is the latest example of her department's commitment to safeguarding voting rights for all Americans, KPRC reported.

“Our complaint alleges that Galveston County has violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by devising a redistricting plan that dismantles the only district in which black and Hispanic voters had the opportunity to elect a candidate of choice to the county’s governing body," Clarke said. "We will continue to use all available tools to challenge voting discrimination in our country.”

According to U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery for the Southern District of Texas, her office is intent on assisting the DOJ with the protection of voting rights.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas is committed to protecting the voting rights of all of our citizens,” Lowery said, KPRC reported. “We are pleased to join the Civil Rights Division in bringing this important lawsuit under the Voting Rights Act.”

The suit seeks to bar Galveston County from conducting another election under the plan in question, as well as have it comply with Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, the station reported.