Text of Senate Amendment 4753

Quick facts

Record: Senate Floor
Section type: Amendments
Chamber: Senate
Date: March 23, 2026
Congress: 119th Congress
Why this source matters: This section came from the Senate floor portion of the record.

Linked context

People mentioned: Durbin, Richard J.
Bills and resolutions: S. 1383 (119th Congress)

Readable version of the official text

SA 4753. Mr. DURBIN (for himself and Mr. Warnock) submitted an

amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 1383, to establish the Veterans Advisory Committee on Equal Access, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the

following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the “John R. Lewis Voting Rights

Advancement Act of 2026”.

TITLE I—AMENDMENTS TO THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT

SEC. 101. VOTE DILUTION, DENIAL, AND ABRIDGMENT CLAIMS.

(a) In General.—Section 2(a) of the Voting Rights Act of

1965 (52 U.S.C. 10301(a)) is amended—

(1) by inserting after “applied by any State or political

subdivision” the following: “for the purpose of, or”; and

(2) by striking “as provided in subsection (b)” and

inserting “as provided in subsection (b), (c), (d), or

(e)”.

(b) Vote Dilution.—Section 2 of such Act (52 U.S.C.

10301), as amended by subsection (a), is further amended by

striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:

“(b) A violation of subsection (a) for vote dilution is

established if, based on the totality of circumstances, it is

shown that the political processes leading to nomination or

election in the State or political subdivision are not

equally open to participation by members of a class of

citizens protected by subsection (a) in that its members have

less opportunity than other members of the electorate to

participate in the political process and to elect

representatives of their choice. The extent to which members

of a protected class have been elected to office in the State

or political subdivision is one circumstance which may be

considered: Provided, That nothing in this section

establishes a right to have members of a protected class

elected in numbers equal to their proportion in the

population. The legal standard articulated in Thornburg v.

Gingles, 478 U.S. 30 (1986), governs claims under this

subsection. For purposes of this subsection a class of

citizens protected by subsection (a) may include a cohesive

coalition of members of different racial or language minority

groups.”.

U.S.C. 10301), as amended by subsections (a) and (b), is

further amended by adding at the end the following:

“(c)(1) A violation of subsection (a) for vote denial or

abridgment is established if the challenged standard,

practice, or procedure imposes a discriminatory burden on

members of a class of citizens protected by subsection (a),

meaning that—

“(A) members of the protected class face greater

difficulty in complying with the standard, practice, or

procedure, considering the totality of the circumstances; and

“(B) such greater difficulty is, at least in part, caused

by or linked to social and historical conditions that have

produced or currently produce discrimination against members

of the protected class.

“(2) The challenged standard, practice, or procedure need

only be a but-for cause of the discriminatory burden or

perpetuate a pre-existing discriminatory burden.

“(3)(A) The totality of the circumstances for

consideration relative to a violation of subsection (a) for

vote denial or abridgment shall include the following

factors, which, individually and collectively, show how a

voting standard, practice, or procedure can function to

amplify the effects of past or present racial discrimination:

“(i) The history of official voting-related discrimination

in the State or political subdivision.

“(ii) The extent to which voting in the elections of the

State or political subdivision is racially polarized.

“(iii) The extent to which the State or political

subdivision has used unduly burdensome photographic voter

identification requirements, documentary proof of citizenship

requirements, documentary proof of residence requirements, or

other voting standards, practices, or procedures beyond those

required by Federal law that may impair the ability of

members of the protected class to participate fully in the

political process.

“(iv) The extent to which members of the protected class

bear the effects of discrimination in areas such as

education, employment, and health, which hinder the ability

of those members to participate effectively in the political

process.

“(v) The use of overt or subtle racial appeals either in

political campaigns or surrounding the adoption or

maintenance of the challenged standard, practice, or

procedure.

“(vi) The extent to which members of the protected class

have been elected to public office in the jurisdiction,

except that the fact that the protected class is too small to

elect candidates of its choice shall not defeat a claim of

vote denial or abridgment under this section.

“(vii) Whether there is a lack of responsiveness on the

part of elected officials to the particularized needs of

members of the protected class.

“(viii) Whether the policy underlying the State or

political subdivision's use of the challenged qualification,

prerequisite, standard, practice, or procedure has a tenuous

connection to that qualification, prerequisite, standard,

practice, or procedure.

“(B) A particular combination or number of factors under

subparagraph (A) shall not be required to establish a

violation of subsection (a) for vote denial or abridgment.

“(C) The totality of the circumstances for consideration

relative to a violation of subsection (a) for vote denial or

abridgment shall not include the following factors:

“(i) The total number or share of members of a protected

class on whom a challenged standard, practice, or procedure

does not impose a material burden.

“(ii) The degree to which the challenged standard,

practice, or procedure has a long pedigree or was in

widespread use at some earlier date.

“(iii) The use of an identical or similar standard,

practice, or procedure in other States or political

subdivisions.

“(iv) The availability of other forms of voting unimpacted

by the challenged standard, practice, or procedure to all

members of the electorate, including members of the protected

class, unless the State or political subdivision is

simultaneously expanding those other standards, practices, or

procedures to eliminate any disproportionate burden imposed

by the challenged standard, practice, or procedure.

“(v) A prophylactic impact on potential criminal activity

by individual voters, if such crimes have not occurred in the

State or political subdivision in substantial numbers.

“(vi) Mere invocation of interests in voter confidence or

prevention of fraud.”.

(d) Intended Vote Dilution or Vote Denial or Abridgment.—

Section 2 of such Act (52 U.S.C. 10301), as amended by

subsections (a), (b), and (c) is further amended by adding at

the end the following:

“(d)(1) A violation of subsection (a) is also established

if a challenged qualification, prerequisite, standard,

practice, or procedure is intended, at least in part, to

dilute the voting strength of a protected class or to deny or

abridge the right of any citizen of the United States to vote

on account of race, color, or in contravention of the

guarantees set forth in section 4(f)(2).

“(2) Discrimination on account of race or color, or in

contravention of the guarantees set forth in section 4(f)(2),

need only be one purpose of a qualification, prerequisite,

standard, practice, or procedure in order to establish a

violation of subsection (a), as described in this subsection.

A qualification, prerequisite, standard, practice, or

procedure intended to dilute the voting strength of a

protected class or to make it more difficult for members of a

protected class to cast a ballot that will be counted

constitutes a violation of subsection (a), as described in

this subsection, even if an additional purpose of the

qualification, prerequisite, standard, practice, or procedure

is to benefit a particular political party or group.

“(3) Recent context, including actions by official

decisionmakers in prior years or in other contexts preceding

the decision responsible for the challenged qualification,

prerequisite, standard, practice, or procedure, and including

actions by predecessor government actors or individual

members of a decisionmaking body, may be relevant to making a

determination about a violation of subsection (a), as

described under this subsection.

“(4) A claim that a violation of subsection (a) has

occurred, as described under this subsection, shall require

proof of a discriminatory impact but shall not require proof

of violation of subsection (b) or (c).”.

SEC. 102. RETROGRESSION.

Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10301

et seq.), as amended by section 101 of this Act, is further

amended by adding at the end the following:

“(e) A violation of subsection (a) is established when a

State or political subdivision enacts or seeks to administer

any qualification or prerequisite to voting or standard,

practice, or procedure with respect to voting in any election

that has the purpose of or will have the effect of

diminishing the ability of any citizens of the United States

on account of race or color, or in contravention of the

guarantees set forth in section 4(f)(2), to participate in

the electoral process or elect their preferred candidates of

choice. This subsection applies to any action taken on or

after January 1, 2021, by a State or political subdivision to

enact or seek to administer any such qualification or

prerequisite to voting or standard, practice or procedure.

“(f) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (e),

final decisions of the United States District Court of the

District of Columbia on applications or petitions by States

or political subdivisions for preclearance under section 5 of

any changes in voting prerequisites, standards, practices, or

procedures, supersede the provisions of subsection (e).”.

SEC. 103. VIOLATIONS TRIGGERING AUTHORITY OF COURT TO RETAIN

JURISDICTION.

(a) Types of Violations.—Section 3(c) of the Voting Rights

Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10302(c)) is amended by striking

“violations of the fourteenth or fifteenth amendment” and

inserting “violations of the 14th or 15th Amendment,

violations of this Act, or violations of any Federal law that

prohibits discrimination in voting on the basis of race,

color, or membership in a language minority group,”.

(b) Conforming Amendment.—Section 3(a) of such Act (52

U.S.C. 10302(a)) is amended by striking “violations of the

fourteenth or fifteenth amendment” and inserting

“violations of the 14th or 15th Amendment, violations of

this Act, or violations of any Federal law that prohibits

discrimination in voting on the basis of race, color, or

membership in a language minority group,”.

SEC. 104. CRITERIA FOR COVERAGE OF STATES AND POLITICAL

SUBDIVISIONS.

(a) Determination of States and Political Subdivisions

Subject to Section 4(a).—

(1) In general.—Section 4(b) of the Voting Rights Act of

1965 (52 U.S.C. 10303(b)) is amended to read as follows:

“(b) Determination of States and Political Subdivisions

Subject to Requirements.—

“(1) Existence of voting rights violations during previous

25 years.—

“(A) Statewide application.—Subsection (a) applies with

respect to a State and all political subdivisions within the

State during a calendar year if—

“(i) fifteen or more voting rights violations occurred in

the State during the previous 25 calendar years; or

“(ii) ten or more voting rights violations occurred in the

State during the previous 25 calendar years, at least one of

which was committed by the State itself (as opposed to a

political subdivision within the State).

“(B) Application to specific political subdivisions.—

Subsection (a) applies with respect to a political

subdivision as a separate unit during a calendar year if

three or more voting rights violations occurred in the

subdivision during the previous 25 calendar years.

“(2) Period of application.—

“(A) In general.—Except as provided in subparagraph (B),

if, pursuant to paragraph (1), subsection (a) applies with

respect to a State or political subdivision during a calendar

year, subsection (a) shall apply with respect to such State

or political subdivision for the period—

“(i) that begins on January 1 of the year in which

subsection (a) applies; and

“(ii) that ends on the date which is 10 years after the

date described in clause (i).

“(B) No further application after declaratory judgment.—

“(i) States.—If a State obtains a declaratory judgment

under subsection (a), and the judgment remains in effect,

subsection (a) shall no longer apply to such State and all

political subdivisions in the State pursuant to paragraph

(1)(A) unless, after the issuance of the declaratory

judgment, paragraph (1)(A) applies to the State solely on the

basis of voting rights violations occurring after the

issuance of the declaratory judgment.

“(ii) Political subdivisions.—If a political subdivision

obtains a declaratory judgment under subsection (a), and the

judgment remains in effect, subsection (a) shall no longer

apply to such political subdivision pursuant to paragraph

(1), including pursuant to paragraph (1)(A) (relating to the

statewide application of subsection (a)), unless, after the

issuance of the declaratory judgment, paragraph (1)(B)

applies to the political subdivision solely on the basis of

voting rights violations occurring after the issuance of the

declaratory judgment.

“(3) Determination of voting rights violation.—For

purposes of paragraph (1), a voting rights violation occurred

in a State or political subdivision if any of the following

applies:

“(A) Judicial relief; violation of the 14th or 15th

amendment.—Any final judgment (that was not reversed on

appeal) occurred, in which the plaintiff prevailed and in

which any court of the United States determined that a denial

or abridgement of the right of any citizen of the United

States to vote on account of race, color, or membership in a

language minority group occurred, or that a voting

qualification or prerequisite to voting or standard,

practice, or procedure with respect to voting created an

undue burden on the right to vote in connection with a claim

that the law unduly burdened voters of a particular race,

color, or language minority group, in violation of the 14th

or 15th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States,

anywhere within the State or subdivision.

“(B) Judicial relief; violations of this act.—Any final

judgment (that was not reversed on appeal) occurred in which

the plaintiff prevailed and in which any court of the United

States determined that a voting qualification or prerequisite

to voting or standard, practice, or procedure with respect to

voting was imposed or applied or would have been imposed or

applied anywhere within the State or subdivision in a manner

that resulted or would have resulted in a denial or

abridgement of the right of any citizen of the United States

to vote on account of race, color, or membership in a

language minority group, in violation of subsection (e) or

(f) or section 2, 201, or 203.

“(C) Final judgment; denial of declaratory judgment.—In a

final judgment (that was not been reversed on appeal), any

court of the United States has denied the request of the

State or subdivision for a declaratory judgment under section

3(c) or section 5, and thereby prevented a voting

qualification or prerequisite to voting or standard,

practice, or procedure with respect to voting from being

enforced anywhere within the State or subdivision.

“(D) Objection by the attorney general.—The Attorney

General has interposed an objection under section 3(c) or

section 5, and thereby prevented a voting qualification or

prerequisite to voting or standard, practice, or procedure

with respect to voting from being enforced anywhere within

the State or subdivision. A violation under this subparagraph

has not occurred where an objection has been withdrawn by the

Attorney General, unless the withdrawal was in response to a

change in the law or practice that served as the basis of the

objection. A violation under this subparagraph has not

occurred where the objection is based solely on a State or

political subdivision's failure to comply with a procedural

process that would not otherwise count as an independent

violation of this Act.

“(E) Consent decree, settlement, or other agreement.—

“(i) Agreement.—A consent decree, settlement, or other

agreement was adopted or entered by a court of the United

States that contains an admission of liability by the

defendants, which resulted in the alteration or abandonment

of a voting practice anywhere in the territory of such State

or subdivision that was challenged on the ground that the

practice denied or abridged the right of any citizen of the

United States to vote on account of race, color, or

membership in a language minority group in violation of

subsection (e) or (f) or section 2, 201, or 203, or the 14th

or 15th Amendment.

“(ii) Independent violations.—A voluntary extension or

continuation of a consent decree, settlement, or agreement

described in clause (i) shall not count as an independent

violation under this subparagraph. Any other extension or

modification of such a consent decree, settlement, or

agreement, if the consent decree, settlement, or agreement

has been in place for ten years or longer, shall count as an

independent violation under this subparagraph. If a court of

the United States finds that a consent decree, settlement, or

agreement described in clause (i) itself denied or abridged

the right of any citizen of the United States to vote on

account of race, color, or membership in a language minority

group, violated subsection (e) or (f) or section 2, 201, or

203, or created an undue burden on the right to vote in

connection with a claim that the consent decree, settlement,

or other agreement unduly burdened voters of a particular

race, color, or language minority group, that finding shall

count as an independent violation under this subparagraph.

“(F) Multiple violations.—Each instance in which a voting

qualification or prerequisite to voting or standard,

practice, or procedure with respect to voting, including each

redistricting plan, is found to be a violation by a court of

the United States pursuant to subparagraph (A) or (B), or

prevented from being enforced pursuant to subparagraph (C) or

(D), or altered or abandoned pursuant to subparagraph (E)

shall count as an independent violation under this paragraph.

Within a redistricting plan, each violation under this

paragraph found to discriminate against any group of voters

based on race, color, or language minority group shall count

as an independent violation under this paragraph.

“(4) Timing of determinations.—

“(A) Determinations of voting rights violations.—As early

as practicable during each calendar year, the Attorney

General shall make the determinations required by this

subsection, including updating the list of voting rights

violations occurring in each State and political subdivision

for the previous calendar year.

“(B) Effective upon publication in federal register.—A

determination or certification of the Attorney General under

this section or under section 8 or 13 shall be effective upon

publication in the Federal Register.”.

(2) Conforming amendments.—Section 4(a) of such Act (52

U.S.C. 10303(a)) is amended—

(A) in paragraph (1), in the first sentence of the matter

preceding subparagraph (A), by striking “any State with

respect to which” and all that follows through “unless”

and inserting “any State to which this subsection applies

during a calendar year pursuant to determinations made under

subsection (b), or in any political subdivision of such State

(as such subdivision existed on the date such determinations

were made with respect to such State), though such

determinations were not made with respect to such subdivision

as a separate unit, or in any political subdivision with

respect to which this subsection applies during a calendar

year pursuant to determinations made with respect to such

subdivision as a separate unit under subsection (b),

unless”;

(B) in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding subparagraph

(A), by striking the second sentence;

State or subdivision seeking a declaratory judgment under the

second sentence of this subsection)”;

(D) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking “(in the case of a

State or subdivision seeking a declaratory judgment under the

second sentence of this subsection)”;

(E) in paragraph (3), by striking “(in the case of a State

or subdivision seeking a declaratory judgment under the

second sentence of this subsection)”;

(F) in paragraph (5), by striking “(in the case of a State

or subdivision which sought a declaratory judgment under the

second sentence of this subsection)”;

(G) by striking paragraphs (7) and (8); and

(H) by redesignating paragraph (9) as paragraph (7).

(b) Clarification of Treatment of Members of Language

Minority Groups.—Section 4(a)(1) of such Act (52 U.S.C.

10303(a)(1)), as amended by subsection (a), is further

amended, in the first sentence, by striking “race or

color,” and inserting “race or color, or in contravention

of the guarantees of subsection (f)(2),”.

Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C.

10303(a)), as amended by subsection (a), is further amended—

(1) by striking paragraph (1)(C) and redesignating

subparagraphs (D) through (F) as subparagraphs (C) through

(E), respectively;

(2) by inserting at the beginning of paragraph (7), as

redesignated by subsection (a)(2)(H), the following: “Any

plaintiff seeking a declaratory judgment under this

subsection on the grounds that the plaintiff meets the

requirements of paragraph (1) may request that the Attorney

General consent to entry of judgment.”; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

“(8) If a political subdivision is subject to the

application of this subsection, due to the applicability of

subsection (b)(1)(A), the political subdivision may seek a

declaratory judgment under this section if the subdivision

demonstrates that the subdivision meets the criteria

established by the subparagraphs of paragraph (1), for the 10

years preceding the date on which subsection (a) applied to

the political subdivision under subsection (b)(1)(A).

“(9) If a political subdivision was not subject to the

application of this subsection by reason of a declaratory

judgment entered prior to the date of enactment of the John

R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2026, and is not,

subsequent to that date of enactment, subject to the

application of this subsection under subsection (b)(1)(B),

then that political subdivision shall not be subject to the

requirements of this subsection.”.

SEC. 105. DETERMINATION OF STATES AND POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS

SUBJECT TO PRECLEARANCE FOR COVERED PRACTICES.

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10301 et seq.) is

further amended by inserting after section 4 the following:

“SEC. 4A. DETERMINATION OF STATES AND POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS

SUBJECT TO PRECLEARANCE FOR COVERED PRACTICES.

“(a) Practice-Based Preclearance.—

“(1) In general.—Each State and each political

subdivision shall—

“(A) identify any newly enacted or adopted law,

regulation, or policy that includes a voting qualification or

prerequisite to voting, or a standard, practice, or procedure

with respect to voting, that is a covered practice described

in subsection (b); and

“(B) ensure that no such covered practice is implemented

unless or until the State or political subdivision, as the

case may be, complies with subsection (c).

“(2) Determinations of characteristics of voting-age

population.—

“(A) In general.—As early as practicable during each

calendar year, the Attorney General, in consultation with the

Director of the Bureau of the Census and the heads of other

relevant offices of the government, shall make the

determinations required by this section regarding voting-age

populations and the characteristics of such populations, and

shall publish a list of the States and political subdivisions

to which a voting-age population characteristic described in

subsection (b) applies.

“(B) Publication in the federal register.—A determination

(including a certification) of the Attorney General under

this paragraph shall be effective upon publication in the

Federal Register.

“(b) Covered Practices.—To assure that the right of

citizens of the United States to vote is not denied or

abridged on account of race, color, or membership in a

language minority group as a result of the implementation of

certain qualifications or prerequisites to voting, or

standards, practices, or procedures with respect to voting,

newly adopted in a State or political subdivision, the

following shall be covered practices subject to the

requirements described in subsection (a):

“(1) Changes to method of election.—Any change to the

method of election—

“(A) to add seats elected at-large in a State or political

subdivision where—

“(i) two or more racial groups or language minority groups

each represent 20 percent or more of the voting-age

population in the State or political subdivision,

respectively; or

“(ii) a single language minority group represents 20

percent or more of the voting-age population on Indian lands

located in whole or in part in the State or political

subdivision; or

“(B) to convert one or more seats elected from a single-

member district to one or more at-large seats or seats from a

multi-member district in a State or political subdivision

where—

“(i) two or more racial groups or language minority groups

each represent 20 percent or more of the voting-age

population in the State or political subdivision,

respectively; or

“(ii) a single language minority group represents 20

percent or more of the voting-age population on Indian lands

located in whole or in part in the State or political

subdivision.

“(2) Changes to political subdivision boundaries.—Any

change or series of changes within a year to the boundaries

of a political subdivision that reduces by 3 or more

percentage points the percentage of the political

subdivision's voting-age population that is comprised of

members of a single racial group or language minority group

in the political subdivision where—

“(A) two or more racial groups or language minority groups

each represent 20 percent or more of the political

subdivision's voting-age population; or

“(B) a single language minority group represents 20

percent or more of the voting-age population on Indian lands

located in whole or in part in the political subdivision.

“(3) Changes through redistricting.—Any change to the

boundaries of districts for Federal, State, or local

elections in a State or political subdivision where any

racial group or language minority group that is not the

largest racial group or language minority group in the

jurisdiction and that represents 15 percent or more of the

State or political subdivision's voting-age population

experiences a population increase of at least 20 percent of

its voting-age population, over the preceding decade (as

calculated by the Bureau of the Census under the most recent

decennial census), in the jurisdiction.

“(4) Changes in documentation or qualifications to vote.—

Any change to requirements for documentation or proof of

identity to vote or register to vote in elections for

Federal, State, or local offices that will exceed or be more

stringent than such requirements under State law on the day

before the date of enactment of the John R. Lewis Voting

Rights Advancement Act of 2026.

“(5) Changes to multilingual voting materials.—Any change

that reduces multilingual voting materials or alters the

manner in which such materials are provided or distributed,

where no similar reduction or alteration occurs in materials

provided in English for such election.

“(6) Changes that reduce, consolidate, or relocate voting

locations, or reduce voting opportunities.—Any change that

reduces, consolidates, or relocates voting locations in

elections for Federal, State, or local office, including

early, absentee, and election-day voting locations, or

reduces days or hours of in-person voting on any Sunday

during a period occurring prior to the date of an election

for Federal, State, or local office during which voters may

cast ballots in such election, or prohibits the provision of

food or non-alcoholic drink to persons waiting to vote in an

election for Federal, State, or local office, except where

the provision would violate prohibitions on expenditures to

influence voting, if the location change, reduction in days

or hours, or prohibition applies—

“(A) in one or more census tracts in which two or more

language minority groups or racial groups each represent 20

percent or more of the voting-age population; or

“(B) on Indian lands in which at least 20 percent of the

voting-age population belongs to a single language minority

group.

“(7) New list maintenance process.—Any change to the

maintenance process for voter registration lists that adds a

new basis for removal from the list of active voters

registered to vote in elections for Federal, State, or local

office, or that incorporates new sources of information in

determining a voter's eligibility to vote in elections for

Federal, State, or local office, if such a change would have

a statistically significant disparate impact, concerning the

removal from voter rolls, on members of racial groups or

language minority groups that constitute greater than 5

percent of the voting-age population—

“(A) in the case of a political subdivision imposing such

change if—

“(i) two or more racial groups or language minority groups

each represent 20 percent or more of the voting-age

population of the political subdivision; or

“(ii) a single language minority group represents 20

percent or more of the voting-age population on Indian lands

located in whole or in part in the political subdivision; or

“(B) in the case of a State imposing such change, if two

or more racial groups or language minority groups each

represent 20 percent or more of the voting-age population

of—

“(i) the State; or

“(ii) a political subdivision in the State, except that

the requirements under subsections (a) and (c) shall apply

only with respect to each such political subdivision

individually.

“(c) Preclearance.—

“(1) In general.—

“(A) Action.—Whenever a State or political subdivision

with respect to which the requirements set forth in

subsection (a) are in effect shall enact, adopt, or seek to

implement any covered practice described under subsection

(b), such State or subdivision may institute an action in the

United States District Court for the District of Columbia for

a declaratory judgment that such covered practice neither has

the purpose nor will have the effect of denying or abridging

the right to vote on account of race, color, or membership in

a language minority group, and unless and until the court

enters such judgment such covered practice shall not be

implemented.

“(B) Submission to attorney general.—

“(i) In general.—Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), such

covered practice may be implemented without such proceeding

if the covered practice has been submitted by the chief legal

officer or other appropriate official of such State or

subdivision to the Attorney General and the Attorney General

has not interposed an objection within 60 days after such

submission, or upon good cause shown, to facilitate an

expedited approval within 60 days after such submission, the

Attorney General has affirmatively indicated that such

objection will not be made. For purposes of determining

whether expedited consideration of approval is required under

this subparagraph or section 5(a), an exigency such as a

natural disaster, that requires a change in a voting

qualification or prerequisite to voting or standard,

practice,

or procedure with respect to voting during the period of 30

days before a Federal election, shall be considered to be

good cause requiring that expedited consideration.

“(ii) Effect of indication.—Neither an affirmative

indication by the Attorney General that no objection will be

made, nor the Attorney General's failure to object, nor a

declaratory judgment entered under this subsection shall bar

a subsequent action to enjoin implementation of such covered

practice. In the event the Attorney General affirmatively

indicates that no objection will be made within the 60-day

period following receipt of a submission, the Attorney

General may reserve the right to reexamine the submission if

additional information comes to the Attorney General's

attention during the remainder of the 60-day period which

would otherwise require objection in accordance with this

subsection.

“(C) Court.—Any action under this subsection shall be

heard and determined by a court of three judges in accordance

with the provisions of section 2284 of title 28, United

States Code, and any appeal shall lie to the Supreme Court.

“(2) Denying or abridging the right to vote.—Any covered

practice described in subsection (b) that has the purpose of

or will have the effect of diminishing the ability of any

citizens of the United States on account of race, color, or

membership in a language minority group, to elect their

preferred candidates of choice denies or abridges the right

to vote within the meaning of paragraph (1).

“(3) Purpose defined.—The term `purpose' in paragraphs

(1) and (2) shall include any discriminatory purpose.

“(4) Purpose of paragraph (2).—The purpose of paragraph

(2) is to protect the ability of such citizens to elect their

preferred candidates of choice.

“(d) Enforcement.—The Attorney General or any aggrieved

citizen may file an action in a district court of the United

States to compel any State or political subdivision to

satisfy the obligations set forth in this section. Such an

action shall be heard and determined by a court of three

judges under section 2284 of title 28, United States Code. In

any such action, the court shall provide as a remedy that

implementation of any voting qualification or prerequisite to

voting, or standard, practice, or procedure with respect to

voting, that is the subject of the action under this

subsection be enjoined unless the court determines that—

“(1) the voting qualification or prerequisite to voting,

or standard, practice, or procedure with respect to voting,

is not a covered practice described in subsection (b); or

“(2) the State or political subdivision has complied with

subsection (c) with respect to the covered practice at issue.

“(e) Counting of Racial Groups and Language Minority

Groups.—For purposes of this section, the calculation of the

population of a racial group or a language minority group

shall be carried out using the methodology in the guidance of

the Department of Justice entitled `Guidance Concerning

Redistricting Under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act;

Notice' (76 Fed. Reg. 7470 (February 9, 2011)).

“(f) Special Rule.—For purposes of determinations under

this section, any data provided by the Bureau of the Census,

whether based on estimation from a sample or actual

enumeration, shall not be subject to challenge or review in

any court.

“(g) Multilingual Voting Materials.—In this section, the

term `multilingual voting materials' means registration or

voting notices, forms, instructions, assistance, or other

materials or information relating to the electoral process,

including ballots, provided in the language or languages of

one or more language minority groups.”.

SEC. 106. PROMOTING TRANSPARENCY TO ENFORCE THE VOTING RIGHTS

ACT.

(a) Transparency.—The Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C.

10301 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 5 the

following:

“SEC. 6. TRANSPARENCY REGARDING CHANGES TO PROTECT VOTING

RIGHTS.

“(a) Notice of Enacted Changes.—

“(1) Notice of changes.—If a State or political

subdivision makes any change in any qualification or

prerequisite to voting or standard, practice, or procedure

with respect to voting in any election for Federal office

that will result in the qualification or prerequisite,

standard, practice, or procedure being different from that

which was in effect as of 180 days before the date of the

election for Federal office, the State or political

subdivision shall provide reasonable public notice in such

State or political subdivision and on the website of the

State or political subdivision, of a concise description of

the change, including the difference between the changed

qualification or prerequisite, standard, practice, or

procedure and the qualification, prerequisite, standard,

practice, or procedure which was previously in effect. The

public notice described in this paragraph, in such State or

political subdivision and on the website of a State or

political subdivision, shall be in a format that is

reasonably convenient and accessible to persons with

disabilities who are eligible to vote, including persons who

have low vision or are blind.

“(2) Deadline for notice.—A State or political

subdivision shall provide the public notice required under

paragraph (1) not later than 48 hours after making the change

involved.

“(b) Transparency Regarding Polling Place Resources.—

“(1) In general.—In order to identify any changes that

may impact the right to vote of any person, prior to the 30th

day before the date of an election for Federal office, each

State or political subdivision with responsibility for

allocating registered voters, voting machines, and official

poll workers to particular precincts and polling places shall

provide reasonable public notice in such State or political

subdivision and on the website of a State or political

subdivision, of the information described in paragraph (2)

for precincts and polling places within such State or

political subdivision. The public notice described in this

paragraph, in such State or political subdivision and on the

website of a State or political subdivision, shall be in a

format that is reasonably convenient and accessible to

persons with disabilities who are eligible to vote, including

persons who have low vision or are blind.

“(2) Information described.—The information described in

this paragraph with respect to a precinct or polling place is

each of the following:

“(A) The name or number.

“(B) In the case of a polling place, the location,

including the street address, and whether such polling place

is accessible to persons with disabilities.

“(C) The voting-age population of the area served by the

precinct or polling place, broken down by demographic group

if such breakdown is reasonably available to such State or

political subdivision.

“(D) The number of registered voters assigned to the

precinct or polling place, broken down by demographic group

if such breakdown is reasonably available to such State or

political subdivision.

“(E) The number of voting machines assigned, including the

number of voting machines accessible to persons with

disabilities who are eligible to vote, including persons who

have low vision or are blind.

“(F) The number of official paid poll workers assigned.

“(G) The number of official volunteer poll workers

assigned.

“(H) In the case of a polling place, the dates and hours

of operation.

“(3) Updates in information reported.—If a State or

political subdivision makes any change in any of the

information described in paragraph (2), the State or

political subdivision shall provide reasonable public notice

in such State or political subdivision and on the website of

a State or political subdivision, of the change in the

information not later than 48 hours after the change occurs

or, if the change occurs fewer than 48 hours before the date

of the election for Federal office, as soon as practicable

after the change occurs. The public notice described in this

paragraph and published on the website of a State or

political subdivision shall be in a format that is reasonably

convenient and accessible to persons with disabilities who

are eligible to vote, including persons who have low vision

or are blind.

“(c) Transparency of Changes Relating to Demographics and

Electoral Districts.—

“(1) Requiring public notice of changes.—Not later than

10 days after making any change in the constituency that will

participate in an election for Federal, State, or local

office or the boundaries of a voting unit or electoral

district in an election for Federal, State, or local office

(including through redistricting, reapportionment, changing

from at-large elections to district-based elections, or

changing from district-based elections to at-large

elections), a State or political subdivision shall provide

reasonable public notice in such State or political

subdivision and on the website of a State or political

subdivision, of the demographic and electoral data described

in paragraph (3) for each of the geographic areas described

in paragraph (2).

“(2) Geographic areas described.—The geographic areas

described in this paragraph are as follows:

“(A) The State as a whole, if the change applies

statewide, or the political subdivision as a whole, if the

change applies across the entire political subdivision.

“(B) If the change includes a plan to replace or eliminate

voting units or electoral districts, each voting unit or

electoral district that will be replaced or eliminated.

“(C) If the change includes a plan to establish new voting

units or electoral districts, each such new voting unit or

electoral district.

“(3) Demographic and electoral data.—The demographic and

electoral data described in this paragraph with respect to a

geographic area described in paragraph (2) are each of the

following:

“(A) The voting-age population, broken down by demographic

group.

“(B) The number of registered voters, broken down by

demographic group if such breakdown is reasonably available

to the State or political subdivision involved.

“(C)(i) If the change applies to a State, the actual

number of votes, or (if it is not reasonably practicable for

the State to ascertain the actual number of votes) the

estimated number of votes received by each candidate in each

statewide election held during the 5-year period which ends

on the date the change involved is made; and

“(ii) if the change applies to only one political

subdivision, the actual number of votes, or (if it is not

reasonably practicable for the political subdivision to

ascertain the actual number of votes) the estimated number of

votes in each subdivision-wide election held during the 5-

year period which ends on the date the change involved is

made.

“(4) Voluntary compliance by smaller jurisdictions.—

Compliance with this subsection shall be voluntary for a

political subdivision of a State unless the subdivision is

one of the following:

“(A) A county or parish.

“(B) A municipality with a population greater than 10,000,

as determined by the Bureau of the Census under the most

recent decennial census.

“(C) A school district with a population greater than

10,000, as determined by the Bureau of the Census under the

most recent decennial census. For purposes of this

subparagraph, the term `school district' means the geographic

area under the jurisdiction of a local educational agency (as

defined in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary

Education Act of 1965).

“(d) Rules Regarding Format of Information.—The Attorney

General may issue rules specifying a reasonably convenient

and accessible format that States and political subdivisions

shall use to provide public notice of information under this

section.

“(e) No Denial of Right To Vote.—The right to vote of any

person shall not be denied or abridged because the person

failed to comply with any change made by a State or political

subdivision to a voting qualification, prerequisite,

standard, practice, or procedure if the State or political

subdivision involved did not meet the applicable requirements

of this section with respect to the change.

“(f) Definitions.—In this section—

“(1) the term `demographic group' means each group which

section 2 protects from the denial or abridgement of the

right to vote on account of race or color, or in

contravention of the guarantees set forth in section 4(f)(2);

“(2) the term `election for Federal office' means any

general, special, primary, or runoff election held solely or

in part for the purpose of electing any candidate for the

office of President, Vice President, Presidential elector,

Senator, Member of the House of Representatives, or Delegate

or Resident Commissioner to the Congress; and

“(3) the term `persons with disabilities', means

individuals with a disability, as defined in section 3 of the

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.”.

(b) Effective Date.—The amendment made by subsection

(a)(1) shall apply with respect to changes which are made on

or after the expiration of the 60-day period which begins on

the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 107. AUTHORITY TO ASSIGN OBSERVERS.

(a) Clarification of Authority in Political Subdivisions

Subject to Preclearance.—Section 8(a)(2)(B) of the Voting

Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10305(a)(2)(B)) is amended to

read as follows:

“(B) in the Attorney General's judgment, the assignment of

observers is otherwise necessary to enforce the guarantees of

the 14th or 15th Amendment or any provision of this Act or

any other Federal law protecting the right of citizens of the

United States to vote; or”.

(b) Assignment of Observers To Enforce Bilingual Election

Requirements.—Section 8(a) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 10305(a))

is amended—

(1) by striking “or” at the end of paragraph (1);

(2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:

“(3) the Attorney General certifies with respect to a

political subdivision that—

“(A) the Attorney General has received written meritorious

complaints from residents, elected officials, or civic

participation organizations that efforts to violate section

203 are likely to occur; or

“(B) in the Attorney General's judgment, the assignment of

observers is necessary to enforce the guarantees of section

203;”; and

(3) by moving the margin for the continuation text

following paragraph (3), as added by paragraph (2) of this

subsection, 2 ems to the left.

General.—

(1) Enforcement proceedings.—Section 3(a) of the Voting

Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10302(a)) is amended by

striking “United States Civil Service Commission in

accordance with section 6” and inserting “Attorney General

in accordance with section 8”.

(2) Observers; appointment and compensation.—Section 8 of

the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10305) is amended—

(A) in subsection (a), in the flush matter at the end, by

striking “Director of the Office of Personnel Management

shall assign as many observers for such subdivision as the

Director” and inserting “Attorney General shall assign as

many observers for such subdivision as the Attorney

General”;

(B) in subsection (c), by striking “Director of the Office

of Personnel Management” and inserting “Attorney General”;

and

“The Director of the Office of Personnel Management may,

with the consent of the Attorney General, assist in the

selection, recruitment, hiring, training, or deployment of

these or other individuals authorized by the Attorney General

for the purpose of observing whether persons who are entitled

to vote are being permitted to vote and whether those votes

are being properly tabulated.”.

(3) Termination of certain appointments of observers.—

Section 13(a)(1) of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C.

10309(a)(1)) is amended by striking “notifies the Director

of the Office of Personnel Management,” and inserting

“determines,”.

SEC. 108. CLARIFICATION OF AUTHORITY TO SEEK RELIEF.

(a) Poll Tax.—Section 10(b) of the Voting Rights Act of

1965 (52 U.S.C. 10306(b)) is amended by striking “the

Attorney General is authorized and directed to institute

forthwith in the name of the United States such actions,”

and inserting “an aggrieved person or (in the name of the

United States) the Attorney General may institute such

actions”.

(b) Cause of Action.—Section 12(d) of the Voting Rights

Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10308(d)) is amended to read as

follows:

“(d)(1) Whenever there are reasonable grounds to believe

that any person has engaged in, or is about to engage in, any

act or practice that would (1) deny any citizen the right to

properly and included in the appropriate totals of votes cast

in violation of the 14th, 15th, 19th, 24th, or 26th

Amendments to the Constitution of the United States, (2)

violate subsection (a) or (b) of section 11, or (3) violate

any other provision of this Act or any other Federal voting

rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of

race, color, or membership in a language minority group, an

aggrieved person or (in the name of the United States) the

Attorney General may institute an action for preventive

relief, including an application for a temporary or permanent

injunction, restraining order, or other appropriate order.

Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to create a

cause of action for civil enforcement of criminal provisions

of this or any other Act.”.

of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10504) is amended by striking the first

sentence and inserting the following: “Whenever there are

reasonable grounds to believe that a State or political

subdivision has engaged or is about to engage in any act or

practice prohibited by a provision of this title, an

aggrieved person or (in the name of the United States) the

Attorney General may institute an action in a district court

of the United States, for a restraining order, a preliminary

or permanent injunction, or such other order as may be

appropriate.”.

(d) Enforcement of Twenty-Sixth Amendment.—Section

301(a)(1) of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C.

10701(a)(1)) is amended to read as follows:

“(a)(1) An aggrieved person or (in the name of the United

States) the Attorney General may institute an action in a

district court of the United States, for a restraining order,

a preliminary or permanent injunction, or such other order as

may be appropriate to implement the 26th Amendment to the

Constitution of the United States.”.

SEC. 109. PREVENTIVE RELIEF.

Section 12(d) of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C.

10308(d)), as amended by section 108, is further amended by

adding at the end the following:

“(2)(A) In considering any motion for preliminary relief

in any action for preventive relief described in this

subsection, the court shall grant the relief if the court

determines that the complainant has raised a serious question

as to whether the challenged voting qualification or

prerequisite to voting or standard, practice, or procedure

violates any of the provisions listed in section 111(a)(1) of

the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2026 and,

on balance, the hardship imposed on the defendant by the

grant of the relief will be less than the hardship which

would be imposed on the plaintiff if the relief were not

granted.

“(B) In making its determination under this paragraph with

respect to a change in any voting qualification, prerequisite

to voting, or standard, practice, or procedure with respect

to voting, the court shall consider all relevant factors and

give due weight to the following factors, if they are

present:

“(i) Whether the qualification, prerequisite, standard,

practice, or procedure in effect prior to the change was

adopted as a remedy for a Federal court judgment, consent

decree, or admission regarding—

“(I) discrimination on the basis of race or color in

violation of the 14th or 15th Amendment to the Constitution

of the United States;

“(II) a violation of the 19th, 24th, or 26th Amendments to

the Constitution of the United States;

“(III) a violation of this Act; or

“(IV) voting discrimination on the basis of race, color,

or membership in a language minority group in violation of

any other Federal or State law.

“(ii) Whether the qualification, prerequisite, standard,

practice, or procedure in effect prior to the change served

as a ground for the dismissal or settlement of a claim

alleging—

“(I) discrimination on the basis of race or color in

violation of the 14th or 15th Amendment to the Constitution

of the United States;

“(II) a violation of the 19th, 24th, or 26th Amendment to

the Constitution of the United States;

“(III) a violation of this Act; or

“(IV) voting discrimination on the basis of race, color,

or membership in a language minority group in violation of

any other Federal or State law.

“(iii) Whether the change was adopted fewer than 180 days

before the date of the election with respect to which the

change is to take or takes effect.

“(iv) Whether the defendant has failed to provide timely

or complete notice of the

adoption of the change as required by applicable Federal or

State law.

“(3) A jurisdiction's inability to enforce its voting or

election laws, regulations, policies, or redistricting plans,

standing alone, shall not be deemed to constitute irreparable

harm to the public interest or to the interests of a

defendant in an action arising under the Constitution or any

Federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of

race, color, or membership in a language minority group in

the voting process, for the purposes of determining whether a

stay of a court's order or an interlocutory appeal under

section 1253 of title 28, United States Code, is

warranted.”.

SEC. 110. BILINGUAL ELECTION REQUIREMENTS.

Section 203(b)(1) of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52

U.S.C. 10503(b)(1)) is amended by striking “2032” and

inserting “2037”.

SEC. 111. RELIEF FOR VIOLATIONS OF VOTING RIGHTS LAWS.

(a) In General.—

(1) Relief for violations of voting rights laws.—In this

section, the term “prohibited act or practice” means—

(A) any act or practice—

(i) that creates an undue burden on the fundamental right

to vote in violation of the 14th Amendment to the

Constitution of the United States or violates the Equal

Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution

of the United States; or

(ii) that is prohibited by the 15th, 19th, 24th, or 26th

Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, section

2004 of the Revised Statutes (52 U.S.C. 10101), the Voting

Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10301 et seq.), the National

Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20501 et seq.), the

Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52

U.S.C. 20301 et seq.), the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52

U.S.C. 20901 et seq.), the Voting Accessibility for the

Elderly and Handicapped Act (52 U.S.C. 20101 et seq.), or

section 2003 of the Revised Statutes (52 U.S.C. 10102); and

(B) any act or practice in violation of any Federal law

that prohibits discrimination with respect to voting,

including the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42

U.S.C. 12101 et seq.).

(2) Rule of construction.—Nothing in this section shall be

construed to diminish the authority or scope of authority of

any person to bring an action under any Federal law.

(3) Attorney's fees.—Section 722(b) of the Revised

Statutes (42 U.S.C. 1988(b)) is amended by inserting “a

provision described in section 111(a)(1) of the John R. Lewis

Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2026,” after “title VI of

the Civil Rights Act of 1964,”.

(b) Grounds for Equitable Relief.—In any action for

equitable relief pursuant to a law listed under subsection

(a), proximity of the action to an election shall not be a

valid reason to deny such relief, or stay the operation of or

vacate the issuance of such relief, unless the party opposing

the issuance or continued operation of relief meets the

burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that the

issuance of the relief would be so close in time to the

election as to cause irreparable harm to the public interest

or that compliance with such relief would impose serious

burdens on the party opposing relief.

(1) In general.—In considering whether to grant, deny,

stay, or vacate any order of equitable relief, the court

shall give substantial weight to the public's interest in

expanding access to the right to vote. A State's generalized

interest in enforcing its enacted laws shall not be a

relevant consideration in determining whether equitable

relief is warranted.

(2) Presumptive safe harbor.—Where equitable relief is

sought either within 30 days of the adoption or reasonable

public notice of the challenged policy or practice, or more

than 45 days before the date of an election to which the

relief being sought will apply, proximity to the election

will be presumed not to constitute a harm to the public

interest or a burden on the party opposing relief.

Voting Rights.—

(1) Prospective effect.—In reviewing an application for a

stay or vacatur of equitable relief granted pursuant to a law

listed in subsection (a), a court shall give substantial

weight to the reliance interests of citizens who acted

pursuant to such order under review. In fashioning a stay or

vacatur, a reviewing court shall not order relief that has

the effect of denying or abridging the right to vote of any

citizen who has acted in reliance on the order.

(2) Written explanation.—No stay or vacatur under this

subsection shall issue unless the reviewing court makes

specific findings that the public interest, including the

public's interest in expanding access to the ballot, will be

harmed by the continuing operation of the equitable relief or

that compliance with such relief will impose serious burdens

on the party seeking such a stay or vacatur such that those

burdens substantially outweigh the benefits to the public

interest. In reviewing an application for a stay or vacatur

of equitable relief, findings of fact made in issuing the

order under review shall not be set aside unless clearly

erroneous.

SEC. 112. PROTECTION OF TABULATED VOTES.

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10307) is

amended—

(1) in section 11—

(A) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

“(a) No person acting under color of law shall—

“(1) fail or refuse to permit any person to vote who is

entitled to vote under Federal law or is otherwise qualified

to vote;

“(2) willfully fail or refuse to tabulate, count, and

report such person's vote; or

“(3) willfully fail or refuse to certify the aggregate

tabulations of such persons' votes or certify the election of

the candidates receiving sufficient such votes to be elected

to office.”; and

(B) in subsection (b), by inserting “subsection (a) or”

after “duties under”; and

(2) in section 12—

(A) in subsection (b)—

(i) by striking “a year following an election in a

political subdivision in which an observer has been

assigned” and inserting “22 months following an election

for Federal office”; and

(ii) by adding at the end the following: “Whenever the

Attorney General has reasonable grounds to believe that any

person has engaged in or is about to engage in an act in

violation of this subsection, the Attorney General may

institute (in the name of the United States) a civil action

in Federal district court seeking appropriate relief.”;

(B) in subsection (c), by inserting “or solicits a

violation of” after “conspires to violate”; and

sentences and inserting the following: “If, after the

closing of the polls in an election for Federal office,

persons allege that notwithstanding (1) their registration by

an appropriate election official and (2) their eligibility to

vote in the political subdivision, their ballots have not

been counted in such election, and if upon prompt receipt of

notifications of these allegations, the Attorney General

finds such allegations to be well founded, the Attorney

General may forthwith file with the district court an

application for an order providing for the counting and

certification of the ballots of such persons and requiring

the inclusion of their votes in the total vote for all

applicable offices before the results of such election shall

be deemed final and any force or effect given thereto.”.

SEC. 113. ENFORCEMENT OF VOTING RIGHTS BY ATTORNEY GENERAL.

Section 12 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C.

10308), as amended by this Act, is further amended by adding

at the end the following:

“(g) Voting Rights Enforcement by Attorney General.—

“(1) In general.—In order to fulfill the Attorney

General's responsibility to enforce this Act and other

Federal laws that protect the right to vote, the Attorney

General (or upon designation by the Attorney General, the

Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights) is authorized,

before commencing a civil action, to issue a demand for

inspection and information in writing to any State or

political subdivision, or other governmental representative

or agent, with respect to any relevant documentary material

that the Attorney General has reason to believe is within

their possession, custody, or control. A demand by the

Attorney General under this subsection may require—

“(A) the production of such documentary material for

inspection and copying;

“(B) answers in writing to written questions with respect

to such documentary material; or

“(C) both the production described under subparagraph (A)

and the answers described under subparagraph (B).

“(2) Contents of an attorney general demand.—

“(A) In general.—Any demand issued under paragraph (1),

shall include a sworn certificate to identify the voting

qualification or prerequisite to voting or standard,

practice, or procedure with respect to voting, or other

voting related matter or issue, whose lawfulness the Attorney

General is investigating and to identify the Federal law that

protects the right to vote under which the investigation is

being conducted. The demand shall be reasonably calculated to

lead to the discovery of documentary material and information

relevant to such investigation. Documentary material includes

any material upon which relevant information is recorded, and

includes written or printed materials, photographs, tapes, or

materials upon which information is electronically or

magnetically recorded. Such demands shall be aimed at the

Attorney General having the ability to inspect and obtain

copies of relevant materials (as well as obtain information)

related to voting and are not aimed at the Attorney General

taking possession of original records, particularly those

that are required to be retained by State and local election

officials under Federal or State law.

“(B) No requirement for production.—Any demand issued

under paragraph (1) may not require the production of any

documentary material or the submission of any answers in

writing to written questions if such material or answers

would be protected from disclosure under the standards

applicable to discovery requests under the Federal Rules of

Civil Procedure in an action in which the Attorney General or

the United States is a party.

“(C) Documentary material.—If the demand issued under

paragraph (1) requires the production of documentary

material, it shall—

“(i) identify the class of documentary material to be

produced with such definiteness and certainty as to permit

such material to be fairly identified; and

“(ii) prescribe a return date for production of the

documentary material at least 20 days

after issuance of the demand to give the State or political

subdivision, or other governmental representative or agent, a

reasonable period of time for assembling the documentary

material and making it available for inspection and copying.

“(D) Answers to written questions.—If the demand issued

under paragraph (1) requires answers in writing to written

questions, it shall—

“(i) set forth with specificity the written question to be

answered; and

“(ii) prescribe a date at least 20 days after the issuance

of the demand for submitting answers in writing to the

written questions.

“(E) Service.—A demand issued under paragraph (1) may be

served by a United States marshal or a deputy marshal, or by

certified mail, at any place within the territorial

jurisdiction of any court of the United States.

“(3) Responses to an attorney general demand.—A State or

political subdivision, or other governmental representative

or agent, shall, with respect to any documentary material or

any answer in writing produced under this subsection, provide

a sworn certificate, in such form as the demand issued under

paragraph (1) designates, by a person having knowledge of the

facts and circumstances relating to such production or

written answer, authorized to act on behalf of the State or

political subdivision, or other governmental representative

or agent, upon which the demand was served. The certificate—

“(A) shall state that—

“(i) all of the documentary material required by the

demand and in the possession, custody, or control of the

State or political subdivision, or other governmental

representative or agent, has been produced;

“(ii) with respect to every answer in writing to a written

question, all information required by the question and in the

possession, custody, control, or knowledge of the State or

political subdivision, or other governmental representative

or agent, has been submitted; or

“(iii) the requirements described in both clause (i) and

clause (ii) have been met; or

“(B) provide the basis for any objection to producing the

documentary material or answering the written question.

To the extent that any information is not furnished, the

information shall be identified and reasons set forth with

particularity regarding the reasons why the information was

not furnished.

“(4) Judicial proceedings.—

“(A) Petition for enforcement.—Whenever any State or

political subdivision, or other governmental representative

or agent, fails to comply with demand issued by the Attorney

General under paragraph (1), the Attorney General may file,

in a district court of the United States in which the State

or political subdivision, or other governmental

representative or agent, is located, a petition for a

judicial order enforcing the Attorney General demand issued

under paragraph (1).

“(B) Petition to modify.—

“(i) In general.—Any State or political subdivision, or

other governmental representative or agent, that is served

with a demand issued by the Attorney General under paragraph

(1) may file in the United States District Court for the

District of Columbia a petition for an order of the court to

modify or set aside the demand of the Attorney General.

“(ii) Petition to modify.—Any petition to modify or set

aside a demand of the Attorney General issued under paragraph

(1) must be filed within 20 days after the date of service of

the Attorney General's demand or at any time before the

return date specified in the Attorney General's demand,

whichever date is earlier.

“(iii) Contents of petition.—The petition shall specify

each ground upon which the petitioner relies in seeking

relief under clause (i), and may be based upon any failure of

the Attorney General's demand to comply with the provisions

of this section or upon any constitutional or other legal

right or privilege of the State or political subdivision, or

other governmental representative or agent. During the

pendency of the petition in the court, the court may stay, as

it deems proper, the running of the time allowed for

compliance with the Attorney General's demand, in whole or in

part, except that the State or political subdivision, or

other governmental representative or agent, filing the

petition shall comply with any portions of the Attorney

General's demand not sought to be modified or set aside.”.

SEC. 114. DEFINITIONS.

Title I of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10301)

is amended by adding at the end the following:

“SEC. 21. DEFINITIONS.

“In this Act:

“(1) Indian.—The term `Indian' has the meaning given the

term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and

Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).

“(2) Indian lands.—The term `Indian lands' means—

“(A) any Indian country of an Indian tribe, as such term

is defined in section 1151 of title 18, United States Code;

“(B) any land in Alaska that is owned, pursuant to the

Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, by an Indian tribe that

is a Native village (as such term is defined in section 3 of

such Act), or by a Village Corporation that is associated

with the Indian tribe (as such term is defined in section 3

of such Act);

“(C) any land on which the seat of government of the

Indian tribe is located; and

“(D) any land that is part or all of a tribal designated

statistical area associated with the Indian tribe, or is part

or all of an Alaska Native village statistical area

associated with the tribe, as defined by the Bureau of the

Census for the purposes of the most recent decennial census.

“(3) Indian tribe.—The term `Indian tribe' or `tribe' has

the meaning given the term `Indian tribe' in section 4 of the

Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25

U.S.C. 5304).

“(4) Tribal government.—The term `Tribal Government'

means the recognized governing body of an Indian Tribe.

“(5) Voting-age population.—The term `voting-age

population' means the numerical size of the population within

a State, within a political subdivision, or within a

political subdivision that contains Indian lands, as the case

may be, that consists of persons age 18 or older, as

calculated by the Bureau of the Census under the most recent

decennial census.”.

SEC. 115. ATTORNEYS' FEES.

Section 14(c) of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C.

10310(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(4) The term `prevailing party' means a party to an

action that receives at least some of the benefit sought by

such action, states a colorable claim, and can establish that

the action was a significant cause of a change to the status

quo.”.

SEC. 116. OTHER TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.

(a) Actions Covered Under Section 3.—Section 3(c) of the

Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10302(c)) is amended—

(1) by striking “any proceeding instituted by the Attorney

General or an aggrieved person under any statute to enforce”

and inserting “any action under any statute in which a party

(including the Attorney General) seeks to enforce”; and

(2) by striking “at the time the proceeding was

commenced” and inserting “at the time the action was

commenced”.

(b) Clarification of Treatment of Members of Language

Minority Groups.—Section 4(f) of such Act (52 U.S.C.

10303(f)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1), by striking the second sentence; and

(2) by striking paragraphs (3) and (4).

Subject to Preclearance Under Section 5.—Section 5 of such

Act (52 U.S.C. 10304) is amended—

(1) in subsection (a), by striking “based upon

determinations made under the first sentence of section 4(b)

are in effect” and inserting “are in effect during a

calendar year”;

(2) in subsection (a), by striking “November 1, 1964” and

all that follows through “November 1, 1972” and inserting

“the applicable date of coverage”; and

(3) by adding at the end the following new subsection:

“(e) The term `applicable date of coverage' means, with

respect to a State or political subdivision—

“(1) June 25, 2013, if the most recent determination for

such State or subdivision under section 4(b) was made on or

before December 31, 2021; or

“(2) the date on which the most recent determination for

such State or subdivision under section 4(b) was made, if

such determination was made after December 31, 2021.”.

(d) Review of Preclearance Submission Under Section 5 Due

to Exigency.—Section 5 of such Act (52 U.S.C. 10304) is

amended, in subsection (a), by inserting “An exigency,

including a natural disaster, inclement weather, or other

unforeseeable event, requiring such different qualification,

prerequisite, standard, practice, or procedure within 30 days

of a Federal, State, or local election shall constitute good

cause requiring the Attorney General to expedite

consideration of the submission.” after “will not be

made.”.

SEC. 117. SEVERABILITY.

If any provision of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights

Advancement Act of 2026 or any amendment made by this title,

or the application of such a provision or amendment to any

person or circumstance, is held to be unconstitutional or is

otherwise enjoined or unenforceable, the remainder of this

title and amendments made by this title, and the application

of the provisions and amendments to any other person or

circumstance, and any remaining provision of the Voting

Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10301 et seq.), shall not be

affected by the holding. In addition, if any provision of the

Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10301 et seq.), or any

amendment to the Voting Rights Act of 1965, or the

application of such a provision or amendment to any person or

circumstance, is held to be unconstitutional or is otherwise

enjoined or unenforceable, the application of the provision

and amendment to any other person or circumstance, and any

remaining provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, shall

not be affected by the holding.

SEC. 118. GRANTS TO ASSIST WITH NOTICE REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE

VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965.

(a) In General.—The Attorney General shall make grants

each fiscal year to small jurisdictions who submit

applications under subsection (b) for purposes of assisting

such small jurisdictions with compliance with the

requirements of the Voting Rights Act of

1965 to submit or publish notice of any change to a

qualification, prerequisite, standard, practice or procedure

affecting voting.

(b) Application.—To be eligible for a grant under this

section, a small jurisdiction shall submit an application to

the Attorney General in such form and containing such

information as the Attorney General may require regarding the

compliance of such small jurisdiction with the provisions of

the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

section, the term “small jurisdiction” means any political

subdivision of a State with a population of 10,000 or less.

TITLE II—ELECTION WORKER AND POLLING PLACE PROTECTION

SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.

This title may be cited as the “Election Worker and

Polling Place Protection Act”.

SEC. 202. PROHIBITION ON INTERFERENCE AND INTIMIDATION.

Section 11 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C.

10307) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(f)(1)(A) Whoever, whether or not acting under color of

law, by force or threat of force, or by violence or threat of

violence to any person or property, willfully interferes with

or attempts to interfere with, the ability of any person or

any class of persons to vote or qualify to vote, or to

qualify or act as a poll watcher or as any legally authorized

election official, in any primary, special, or general

election, or any person who is, or is employed by, an agent,

contractor, or vendor of a legally authorized election

official assisting in the administration of any primary,

special, or general election to assist in that

administration, shall be fined not more than $2,500, or

imprisoned not more than 6 months, or both.

“(B) Whoever, whether or not acting under color of law, by

force or threat of force, or by violence or threat of

violence to any person or property, willfully intimidates or

attempts to intimidate, any person or any class of persons

seeking to vote or qualify to vote, or to qualify or act as a

poll watcher or as any legally authorized election official,

in any primary, special, or general election, or any person

who is, or is employed by, an agent, contractor, or vendor of

a legally authorized election official assisting in the

administration of any primary, special, or general election,

shall be fined not more than $2,500, or imprisoned not more

than 6 months, or both.

“(C) If bodily injury results from an act committed in

violation of this paragraph or if such act includes the use,

attempted use, or threatened use of a dangerous weapon, an

explosive, or fire, then, in lieu of the remedy described in

subparagraph (A) or (B), the violator shall be fined not more

than $5,000 or imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both.

“(2)(A) Whoever, whether or not acting under color of law,

willfully physically damages or threatens to physically

damage any physical property being used as a polling place or

tabulation center or other election infrastructure, with the

intent to interfere with the administration of a primary,

general, or special election or the tabulation or

certification of votes for such an election, shall be fined

not more than $2,500, or imprisoned not more than 6 months,

or both.

“(B) If bodily injury results from an act committed in

violation of this paragraph or if such act includes the use,

attempted use, or threatened use of a dangerous weapon, an

explosive, or fire, then, in lieu of the remedy described in

subparagraph (A), the violator shall be fined not more than

$5,000 or imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both.

“(3) For purposes of this subsection, de minimus damage or

a threat of de minimus damage to physical property shall not

be considered a violation of this subsection.

“(4) For purposes of this subsection, the term `election

infrastructure' means any office of a legally authorized

election official, or a staffer, worker, or volunteer,

assisting such an election official or any physical,

mechanical, or electrical device, structure, or tangible

item, used in the process of creating, distributing, voting,

returning, counting, tabulating, auditing, storing, or other

handling of voter registration or ballot information.

“(g) No prosecution of any offense described in subsection

(f) may be undertaken by the United States, except under the

certification in writing of the Attorney General, or a

designee, that—

“(1) the State does not have jurisdiction;

“(2) the State has requested that the Federal Government

assume jurisdiction; or

“(3) a prosecution by the United States is in the public

interest and necessary to secure substantial justice.”.

Official source

Download the official section PDF

Readable version of the official text

Linked Context

Official Record

Quick facts

Linked context

Readable version of the official text

Official source