Is Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act Still Needed?

March 26, 2013 • 12:15 PM • Law School 3037

The Supreme Court has held Section 5 to be Constitutional in the past on the premise that it was needed, but that Congress would need to reconsider the justification for it when renewed. In 2006, Congress renewed the Voting Rights Act including Section 5 in full without any analysis of whether Federal pre-clearance of local election law changes is still serving a needed purpose. Should the constitutionality of Section 5 be upheld in light of current statistics? SCOTUS will decide in Shelby County v. Holder. For more information, please contact pla4@duke.edu