U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for August 4

WASHINGTON, Aug. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 4: VOTING RIGHTS ACT

Profile America — Thursday, August 4th.  A landmark piece of legislation was signed into law this week 46 years ago by President Lyndon Johnson — the Voting Rights Act of 1965.  Among its provisions, the act outlawed attempts to discriminate against minority voters with literacy tests and poll taxes.  The law has been extended four times, most recently in 2006, and some of its sections have been made permanent through the years.  Voter eligibility and turnout is shaping up to be an important topic in next year's presidential election, with charges and countercharges of voter fraud and vote suppression.   In the election of 2008, nearly 61 percent of African-Americans voted, as well as 32 percent of both Asians and Hispanics.  You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at www.census.gov.

Sources:  Chase's Calendar of Events 2011, p. 402

www.ourdocuments.gov  (Voting Rights Acts)

Statistical Abstract 2011, t. 416

Profile America is produced by the Public Information Office of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look for "Multimedia Gallery" by the "Newsroom" button).  

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau