Jul 24, 2025

⚖️Shelby County v. Holder guts Section 4(b) preclearance requirements

Civil Rights

Constitutional Law

Judicial Review

On June 25, 2013, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in Shelby County v. Holder that Section 4(b) of the Voting Rights Act was unconstitutional, gutting federal oversight of voting changes in states with histories of discrimination. Texas announced implementation of its restrictive voter ID law the same day, followed by Mississippi (June 25) and Alabama (June 28). Since the ruling, 29 states passed 94 restrictive voting laws, nearly 1,000 polling places closed in predominantly African-American counties, and the "racial turnout gap" between white and nonwhite voters has grown substantially according to Brennan Center analysis published March 2024.

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Why This Matters

⚡ Texas implemented voter ID law within 2 hours of the decision

Previously blocked as discriminatory under federal oversight, the law immediately disenfranchised an estimated 600,000 registered Texas voters who lacked acceptable identification, predominantly affecting elderly, low-income, and minority communities without driver's licenses.

📊 94 new voting restrictions passed in 11 years across 29 states

More restrictive laws enacted since Shelby County than in the previous 50 years combined, targeting minorities with "surgical precision" according to federal court findings in cases like North Carolina's omnibus voting restrictions.

🛡️ Preclearance blocked over 3,000 discriminatory changes in 48 years

Federal oversight prevented voting discrimination from 1965-2013 by requiring advance approval for any voting changes, catching subtle discriminatory tactics before they could disenfranchise voters rather than after damage was done.

🏢 Nearly 1,000 polling places closed in predominantly Black counties

Five years post-Shelby, massive polling place consolidations forced longer travel distances and wait times in communities of color, while white suburban areas maintained convenient access to voting locations.

📞 Congress can restore protections through the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act

Call 202-224-3121 and demand your representatives pass HR 14, which would reinstate federal oversight with updated coverage formulas targeting current patterns of voting discrimination nationwide.

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⚖️Shelby County v. Holder guts Section 4(b) preclearance requirements

Review Topic

Key Takeaways

Influential Figures

Why This Matters

⚡ Texas implemented voter ID law within 2 hours of the decision

📊 94 new voting restrictions passed in 11 years across 29 states

🛡️ Preclearance blocked over 3,000 discriminatory changes in 48 years

🏢 Nearly 1,000 polling places closed in predominantly Black counties

📞 Congress can restore protections through the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act

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?

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

Review Topic

Key Takeaways

Influential Figures

Why This Matters

⚡ Texas implemented voter ID law within 2 hours of the decision

📊 94 new voting restrictions passed in 11 years across 29 states

🛡️ Preclearance blocked over 3,000 discriminatory changes in 48 years

🏢 Nearly 1,000 polling places closed in predominantly Black counties

📞 Congress can restore protections through the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act

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?

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

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