What is Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, and what did it require?

• A. Voter ID requirement for all voters.
• B. Preclearance; jurisdictions with a history of discrimination must obtain federal approval before changes to voting laws.
• C. Federal oversight committee appointed by the President.
• D. Sunset provision ending federal supervision after ten years.

Answer: (B)

Section 5 is the preclearance requirement. It applied to certain states and jurisdictions with a history of voting discrimination, meaning they had to obtain federal approval before making changes to voting laws or procedures. Proposed changes—such as redistricting, new voter registration rules, or changes to polling places or election procedures—had to be submitted to the Department of Justice or the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., and could not take effect until clearance was granted. The goal was to prevent discriminatory measures from going into effect and to protect minority voters. In practice, coverage was determined by a separate provision that identified which areas were subject to preclearance. Note that after a 2013 Supreme Court decision, the formula for coverage was struck down, limiting Section 5’s reach unless Congress acts to fix it.