Jul 24, 2025

⚖️The Supreme Court Decision That Unleashed Voter Suppression

Constitutional Law

Judicial Review

Civil Rights

In 2013, the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act in Shelby County v. Holder. Within hours, states implemented discriminatory laws previously blocked by federal oversight. Learn how one decision transformed American democracy.

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Key Takeaways

Influential Figures

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Why This Matters

Texas implemented voter ID law within 2 hours of the decision

Previously blocked as discriminatory, the law immediately disenfranchised 600,000 registered voters lacking acceptable ID.

78 new voting restrictions passed in 11 years

More restrictive laws enacted since Shelby than in the previous 50 years combined, targeting minorities with "surgical precision."

Preclearance blocked 3,000 discriminatory changes

Federal oversight prevented voting discrimination for 48 years—now those protections are gone in states with worst histories.

Congress can restore protections today

The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act would reinstate federal oversight—pressure your representatives at 202-224-3121.

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⚖️The Supreme Court Decision That Unleashed Voter Suppression

Review Topic

Key Takeaways

Influential Figures

Why This Matters

Texas implemented voter ID law within 2 hours of the decision

78 new voting restrictions passed in 11 years

Preclearance blocked 3,000 discriminatory changes

Congress can restore protections today

What Others Are Asking

No Questions Yet

Detailed Content

Categorize these actors by their role during the Shelby aftermath.

Shelby County struck down Section ___ of the VRA, eliminating the _ that determined which states needed _. The Court said the formula was based on ___ data.

Fill in the blanks for these June 2013 events: blank_1: Supreme Court decision invalidating Section 4(b); blank_2: Action taken by Texas AG Greg Abbott.

Match each Voting Rights Act provision with its impact or status.

How quickly did Texas implement its previously-blocked voter ID law after Shelby County?

Which provision of the Voting Rights Act did the Supreme Court invalidate in Shelby County v. Holder?

What action did Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott take within hours of the Shelby decision?

Which Justice authored the dissent in the Shelby County ruling, warning against discarding preclearance protections?

If the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act were enacted, what would formerly covered states typically be required to do before changing voting laws?

What would the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act do to address Shelby County's damage?

Order these events showing Shelby County's immediate impact on voting rights.

Order these events from earliest to latest: Shelby decision, Senate Judiciary hearings, House passage of John Lewis Act, Senate filibuster, reintroduction of John Lewis Act.

The Supreme Court declared that racial discrimination in voting no longer exists.

True or False: Federal preclearance under the Voting Rights Act blocked over 3,000 discriminatory changes from 1965 to 2013.

Review Topic

Key Takeaways

Influential Figures

Why This Matters

Texas implemented voter ID law within 2 hours of the decision

78 new voting restrictions passed in 11 years

Preclearance blocked 3,000 discriminatory changes

Congress can restore protections today

What Others Are Asking

No Questions Yet

Detailed Content

Categorize these actors by their role during the Shelby aftermath.

Shelby County struck down Section _____ of the VRA, eliminating the _____ that determined which states needed _____. The Court said the formula was based on _____ data.

Fill in the blanks for these June 2013 events: blank_1: Supreme Court decision invalidating Section 4(b); blank_2: Action taken by Texas AG Greg Abbott.

Match each Voting Rights Act provision with its impact or status.

How quickly did Texas implement its previously-blocked voter ID law after Shelby County?

Which provision of the Voting Rights Act did the Supreme Court invalidate in Shelby County v. Holder?

What action did Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott take within hours of the Shelby decision?

Which Justice authored the dissent in the Shelby County ruling, warning against discarding preclearance protections?

If the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act were enacted, what would formerly covered states typically be required to do before changing voting laws?

What would the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act do to address Shelby County's damage?

Order these events showing Shelby County's immediate impact on voting rights.

Order these events from earliest to latest: Shelby decision, Senate Judiciary hearings, House passage of John Lewis Act, Senate filibuster, reintroduction of John Lewis Act.

The Supreme Court declared that racial discrimination in voting no longer exists.

True or False: Federal preclearance under the Voting Rights Act blocked over 3,000 discriminatory changes from 1965 to 2013.

Shelby County struck down Section ___ of the VRA, eliminating the _ that determined which states needed _. The Court said the formula was based on ___ data.