"By an overwhelming 8 to 1 majority the Supreme Court has rejected an attempt to turn the clock back on civil rights and acknowledged Congress's authority to protect the right to vote.
"With the exception of Justice Clarence Thomas, the Justices of the Supreme Court understands the importance of the Voting Rights Act and the progress this country has made since 1964.
"As a result of today's ruling, the VRA and its ‘preclearance' provision remain effective tools in this nation's ongoing struggle to guarantee an equal vote to all, regardless of race."