Speech #910174928

In my judgment we have four alternatives open to us: First. We can allow certain sections of the Voting Rights Act to expire on Second. We can adopt the Housepassed administration bill. which would extend the act until January 1. 1974. and would make the ban on literacy tests apply to all 50 States rather than to six Southern States and 39 counties in North Carolina. The administration bill would also delete the obnoxious "prior clearance" provision of the law which compels the covered States and counties to come hat in hand to Washington. D.C.. to receive permission before they can make even minor changes in their election laws.