Steve Cicala
@stevecicala.bsky.social
12K followers 657 following 1.5K posts
Vontobel Foundation Professor of Sustainable Economics University of Zurich Tufts University (on leave) www.stevecicala.com goingelectric.substack.com
Vontobel Foundation Professor of Sustainable Economics University of Zurich Tufts University (on leave) www.stevecicala.com goingelectric.substack.com
![Nearly 50 years later, things have changed dramatically. Largely because of the Voting Rights Act, “[v]oter turnout and registration rates” in covered jurisdictions “now approach parity. Blatantly discriminatory evasions of federal decrees are rare. And minority candidates hold office at unprecedented levels.” Northwest Austin, supra, at 202. The tests and devices that blocked ballot access have been forbidden nationwide for over 40 years. Yet the Act has not eased §5’s restrictions or narrowed the scope of §4’s coverage formula along the way. Instead those extraordinary and unprecedented features have been reauthorized as if nothing has changed, and they have grown even stronger. Because §5 applies only to those jurisdictions singled out by §4, the Court turns to consider that provision. Pp. 13–17.
(b) Section 4’s formula is unconstitutional in light of current conditions. Pp. 17–25.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:6dz3ci2p6ojv633run467izc/bafkreihkefqxddeeklvbwfqo3nzm3aexr3qjvyc5i7s3tgmndmk3hc3jge)
