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Article: Supreme Court: more districts can sue to bail out of Voting Rights Act.(USA)
- Article from:
- The Christian Science Monitor
- Article date:
- June 22, 2009
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2009 The Christian Science Publishing Society. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: Warren Richey Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor
Washington -- The US Supreme Court has made it possible for cities, towns, and other small jurisdictions to qualify for an exemption from long-mandated federal oversight under the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
In an 8-to-1 decision announced Monday, the high court embraced a more expansive reading of a key part of Section 5. The provision requires jurisdictions governed by the Voting Rights Act to obtain federal permission before making any changes to election procedures. The ruling broadens the kinds of jurisdictions that can use the so-called "bailout" provision in Section 5 to end federal ...