A UN human rights expert said on Monday that electoral laws in some parts of the country including Texas may undermine democracy by depriving millions of members of minority groups of the right to vote.
Fernand de Varennes, the UN special rapporteur on minority issues, speaking on the final day of a two-week visit to the US, decried a Texas law that he said resulted in “gerrymandering” and dilution of voting rights of minorities in favour of white Americans.
“It is becoming unfortunately apparent that it is almost a tyranny of the majority, where the minority right to vote is being denied in many areas, in parts of the country,” he told a news briefing.
He called for a “New Deal” to overhaul legislation.
There was no immediate US reaction to his preliminary observations, which Mr de Varennes said he had shared with State Department officials earlier in the day.
Democrats have made election reform a priority in light of Republican state-balloting restrictions passed in response to former president Donald Trump's claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election.
At least 19 states have passed laws making it harder to vote, the non-partisan Brennan Centre for Justice reported.
The US Justice Department filed a lawsuit against Texas this month over its law that curbs voting by mail, in the latest effort by the den administration of President Joe Biden to combat new voting restrictions.
Mr De Varennes is a law professor who has served in the independent post since 2017.
Surianah's top five jazz artists
Billie Holliday: for the burn and also the way she told stories.
Thelonius Monk: for his earnestness.
Duke Ellington: for his edge and spirituality.
Louis Armstrong: his legacy is undeniable. He is considered as one of the most revolutionary and influential musicians.
Terence Blanchard: very political - a lot of jazz musicians are making protest music right now.
The Facility’s Versatility
Between the start of the 2020 IPL on September 20, and the end of the Pakistan Super League this coming Thursday, the Zayed Cricket Stadium has had an unprecedented amount of traffic.
Never before has a ground in this country – or perhaps anywhere in the world – had such a volume of major-match cricket.
And yet scoring has remained high, and Abu Dhabi has seen some classic encounters in every format of the game.
October 18, IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders tied with Sunrisers Hyderabad
The two playoff-chasing sides put on 163 apiece, before Kolkata went on to win the Super Over
January 8, ODI, UAE beat Ireland by six wickets
A century by CP Rizwan underpinned one of UAE’s greatest ever wins, as they chased 270 to win with an over to spare
February 6, T10, Northern Warriors beat Delhi Bulls by eight wickets
The final of the T10 was chiefly memorable for a ferocious over of fast bowling from Fidel Edwards to Nicholas Pooran
March 14, Test, Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by six wickets
Eleven wickets for Rashid Khan, 1,305 runs scored in five days, and a last session finish
June 17, PSL, Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi by 15 runs
Usman Khawaja scored a hundred as Islamabad posted the highest score ever by a Pakistan team in T20 cricket
