Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes new criteria for determining which states and political subdivisions must obtain preclearance before changes to voting practices may take effect, authorizes DOJ to require states or political subdivisions to provide certain documents or answers to questions for enforcing voting rights, and outlines factors courts must consider when hearing challenges to voting practices, such as the history of official voting discrimination in the state or political subdivision.

Highlights:

• Defines “Preclearance” as the process of receiving preapproval from the Department of Justice (DOJ) or the US District Court for Washington D.C. before making legal changes that would affect voting rights (Sec. 6).

• Requires the DOJ, US District Court for Washington D.C. or other District Courts consider the extent of any history of official voting discrimination in the state or political subdivision that affected the rights of protected classes and miniorty groups to registister to vote or otherwise participate in the political process when hearing challenges to voting practices (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that a state and all its political subdivisions and seperate units shall be subject to preclearance for voting practice changes for a 10 year period if the following occurred, including (Sec. 5):

• 15 or more voting rights violations occurred in the state during the previous 25 years;

• 10 or more violations occurred during the previous 25 years, with at least 1 having been committed by the state itself; or

• 3 or more violations occurred before the previous 25 years and the state administers the elections.

• Requires states and political subdivisions that meet minority group thresholds to obtain preclearance before implementing the following changes to methods of election processing, including (Sec. 6):

• Changes to methods of election seat distribution;

• Changes to jurisdiction boundaries that reduces the voting population by 3 percent;

• Changes through redistricting;

• Changes to documentation or qualification requirements to vote;

• Changes to multilingual voting materials;

• Changes to reduce, consolidate, or relocate voting locations or reduce voting opportunities; or

• Changes to voter registration lists and name removal policies.

• Requires states and political subdivisions notify the public over changes to voting practices and procedures (Sec. 6).

• Authorizes the Attorney General and DOJ to require states and political subdivisions provide documents such as voter lists, local election laws and policies, or other evidence to answer questions over their enforcement of voting rights (Sec. 12).

Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text