Changes for electronic submissions of voting changes under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. 1973c.

On March 23, 2012, the court entered a consent decree in United States v. Wisconsin. The consent decree remedies violations of UOCAVA alleged in the Department's complaint, which was also filed on March 23. The complaint alleges that the state violated UOCAVA when at least 65 Wisconsin municipalities failed to send ballots 45 days in advance of the April 3, 2012, presidential preference primary election to military and overseas voters who timely requested absentee ballots. The consent decree provides additional time beyond the state's existing April 6, 2012 deadline for receipt of ballots from military and overseas voters, equal to the total number of days a municipality was late in sending ballots. Under the consent decree, municipalities will offer affected voters who have not yet received their ballots the opportunity to receive their ballots electronically. The consent decree also requires Wisconsin to closely monitor its municipalities' UOCAVA compliance, provide assistance to its municipalities when necessary and report back to the Department of Justice about its UOCAVA compliance during the 2012 federal election cycle. In addition, the consent decree requires Wisconsin to take steps to ensure compliance with UOCAVA in future federal elections and provide a report to the Department on those efforts.

On February 24, 2012, the Department filed a complaint against the State of Alabama and the Alabama Secretary of State for failing to transmit absentee ballots to military and overseas voters at least 45 days prior to the State's March 13 federal primary election as required by UOCAVA. On February 27, the Department moved for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction seeking emergency relief for affected voters. On February 28, 2012, the court entered an order requiring that the State file with the court a report detailing UOCAVA ballot activity throughout the State, including the dates each county transmitted timely-requested ballots to military and overseas voters. The order further required the State to confer with the Department of Justice on appropriate relief to ensure UOCAVA voters would have a full opportunity to participate in the federal primary election, and in the subsequent federal runoff election if one is held. On March 7, 2012, after the parties were unable to agree on the relief necessary to remedy the violations of UOCAVA, the court entered a preliminary injunction ordering Alabama to provide additional time after election day for receipt of UOCAVA ballots; procedures for affording UOCAVA voters sufficient time to vote in the April 24, 2012 runoff elections, should one be necessary; to implement procedures for providing notice to affected voters of the remedies contained in the order; and to report relevant data for all the remaining 2012 federal elections. The case remains pending to determine what steps are necessary to ensure Alabama's compliance with UOCAVA in future federal election cycles. On March 12, 2012, the Court issued an opinion setting out its reasons for the order.

On February 27, the Department filed a complaint in United States v. Colfax County, NE (D.Neb.) alleging violations of Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act by failing to provide all election materials, information and assistance in Spanish that are already provided in English. On March 2, 2012, the Court entered a consent order as well the authorization of federal observers until March 30, 2015.

On October 19, 2011 the Court entered a consent decree in United States v. Alameda County (N.D. Cal.) The County must provide bilingual language assistance at the polls and election-related materials and information in Spanish and Chinese and newly covered languages as determined by the Census Bureau. On June 30, 2011, the Department filed a complaint which alleged that Alameda County violated Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act by having failed to provide effective access to the electoral process for Spanish and Chinese-speaking citizens who need language assistance and translated materials and information to cast an informed ballot. The parties have agreed that federal observers may monitor Election Day activities in polling places in Alameda County.

On October 13, 2011, the U.S. Census Bureau published the new Section 203 determinations for language minority coverage, based on the American Survey data.

On October 7, the Department simultaneously filed a complaint and settlement agreement to protect the rights of Spanish-speaking Puerto Rican voters in the case United States v. Lorain County. The complaint alleged that the County did not comply with the requirements of Section 4(e) of the Voting Rights Act by not providing critical election-related information and assistance in Spanish to LEP Puerto Rican voters. Lorain County and the Department also filed a joint stipulation that sought a court order to permit Defendants to delay answering the complaint until April 20, 2014, and to authorize federal observers through March 30, 2014. On October 7, a federal district court judge granted the proposed order. Under the agreement, the County will provide a bilingual machine ballot and hire more bilingual workers starting with the November 8, 2011 election. The County will take additional steps to create a compliant bilingual election program beginning with elections held in 2012.

On July 12, the Department filed a complaint against the State of Louisiana. The complaint alleges that the State and its public assistance and disability agencies violated the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA) by failing to offer voter registration opportunities at public assistance agencies and offices providing state-funded disability programs for persons with disabilities throughout the state.

On April 15, 2011, the Department issued a final rule implementing revisions to several sections of the procedures for the administration of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

The United States filed a complaint on March 18, 2011, alleging that the State of Rhode Island violated the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA) by failing to offer voter registration opportunities in public assistance offices and offices that provide state-funded programs primarily serving persons with disabilities. On March 25, 2011, the court entered a consent decree, which required state officials to ensure that voter registration opportunities are offered at all public assistance and disability services offices in the state and to develop and implement NVRA training and tracking programs for those offices. In addition, the consent decree requires the state to amend its contracts with private entities that provide state-funded disability programs to ensure that such entities offer appropriate voter registration opportunities.

The Department has issued Guidance Concerning Redistricting and Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.