{
  "id": "RS21593",
  "type": "CRS Report",
  "typeId": "REPORTS",
  "number": "RS21593",
  "active": false,
  "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
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    {
      "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
      "id": 346821,
      "date": "2003-08-25",
      "retrieved": "2016-04-08T14:39:28.290544",
      "title": "Redistricting and the Voting Rights Act: A\u00a0Legal Analysis of Georgia v. Ashcroft",
      "summary": "In Georgia v. Ashcroft, the Supreme Court found that a three-judge federal district court panel did not consider all of the requisite relevant factors when it examined whether the 2001 Georgia senate redistricting plan resulted in retrogression of black voters\u2019 effective exercise of the electoral franchise in contravention of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended (VRA). Section 5, which only applies to those states or political subdivisions that are considered \u201ccovered\u201d under Section 4(b) of the VRA, requires that before any change in voting procedure can take effect, it must be precleared by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia or the U.S. Attorney General. Preclearance is contingent upon whether the change \u201cwould lead to a retrogression in the position of racial minorities with respect to their effective exercise of the electoral franchise.\u201d The Court held that the district court analysis was incorrect \u201cbecause it focused too heavily on the ability of the minority group to elect a candidate of its choice in the [safe] districts,\u201d without giving proper consideration to other factors such as the state\u2019s creation of additional influence and coalition districts. Accordingly, the Supreme Court vacated and remanded the case to the district court to examine the facts using the new standard announced in its opinion.",
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      "typeId": "REPORTS",
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