And the unimpeded exercise of this right is essential to the functioning of our democracy. Unfortunately. history has not been kind to certain citizens in their ability to exercise this right. For a large part of our Nations history. racial minorities have been prevented from voting because of barriers such as literacy tests. poll taxes. and property requirements. We have come a long way in the last 40 years. That was clear just a few weeks ago when Democrats and Republicans. Members of the Senate and the House. stood on the Capitol steps to announce the introduction of a bill to reauthorize the Voting Rights Act. That rare and refreshing display of bipartisanship reflects our collective belief that more needs to be done to remove barriers to voting. Right now. the Senate is finishing a historic debate about immigration reform. It has been a difficult discussion. occasionally contentious. And it has required bipartisan cooperation.
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literacy tests immigration