RIP Voting Rights Act

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court John Roberts speaks at the Indiana University School of Law in Indianapolis, Wednesday, April 7, 2010. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Much of the focus in advance of the Supreme Court’s decision on the Voting Rights Act was on Section 5, which requires preclearance from the Justice Department or federal courts before a jurisdiction subject to the Voting Rights Act — those with histories of racial discrimination — can change their voting laws.

But the court did not rule on Section 5. Instead it struck down Section 4, which establishes which jurisdictions are subject to the extra scrutiny involved in preclearance. Think: old Confederacy states. So arguably the court went further in invalidating the law. More soon.

Latest Editors' Blog
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Associate Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: