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Jurisdictions Previously Covered By Section 5

Here is a list of those jurisdictions that were previously covered and are now "bailed out" from coverage pursuant receiving a declaratory judgment under Section 4(a) of the Voting Rights Act.

Jurisdictions previously covered by Section 5 at the time of the Shelby County decision

Shelby County

On June 25, 2013, the United States Supreme Court held that it is unconstitutional to use the coverage formula in Section 4(b) of the Voting Rights Act to determine which jurisdictions are subject to the preclearance requirement of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, Shelby County v. Holder, 570 U.S. 529 (2013). The Supreme Court did not rule on the constitutionality of Section 5 itself. The effect of the Shelby County decision is that the jurisdictions identified by the coverage formula in Section 4(b) no longer need to seek preclearance for the new voting changes, unless they are covered by a separate court order entered under Section 3(c) of the Voting Rights Act.

Below is a list of those jurisdictions that were previously covered by Section 5 at the time of the Shelby County decision.

States Covered as a Whole Applicable Date Fed. Register Date
Alabama Nov. 1, 1964 30 FR 9897 Aug. 7, 1965
Alaska Nov. 1, 1972 40 FR 49422 Oct. 22, 1975
Arizona Nov. 1, 1972 40 FR 43746 Sept. 23, 1975
Georgia Nov. 1, 1964 30 FR 9897 Aug. 7, 1965
Louisiana Nov. 1, 1964 30 FR 9897 Aug. 7, 1965
Mississippi Nov. 1, 1964 30 FR 9897 Aug. 7, 1965
South Carolina Nov. 1, 1964 30 FR 9897 Aug. 7, 1965
Texas Nov. 1, 1972 40 FR 43746 Sept. 23, 1975
Virginia Nov. 1, 1964 30 FR 9897 Aug. 7, 1965


Covered Counties in
States Not Covered as a Whole
APPLICABLE DATE Fed. Register Date
California:        
  Kings County Nov. 1, 1972 40 FR 43746 Sept. 23. 1975
  Monterey County Nov. 1, 1968 36 FR 5809 Mar. 27, 1971
  Yuba County Nov. 1, 1968 36 FR 5809 Mar. 27, 1971
  Yuba County Nov. 1, 1972 41 FR 784 Jan. 5, 1976
Florida:      
  Collier County Nov. 1, 1972 41 FR 34329 Aug. 13, 1976
  Hardee County Nov. 1, 1972 40 FR 43746 Sept. 23, 1975
  Hendry County Nov. 1, 1972 41 FR 34329 Aug. 13, 1976
  Hillsborough County Nov. 1, 1972 40 FR 43746 Sept. 23, 1975
  Monroe County Nov. 1, 1972 40 FR 43746 Sept. 23, 1975
New York:        
  Bronx County Nov. 1, 1968 36 FR 5809 Mar. 27, 1971
  Bronx County Nov. 1, 1972 40 FR 43746 Sept. 23, 1975
  Kings County Nov. 1, 1968 36 FR 5809 Mar. 27, 1971
  Kings County Nov. 1, 1972 40 FR 43746 Sept. 23, 1975
  New York County Nov. 1, 1968 36 FR 5809 Mar. 27, 1971
North Carolina:        
  Anson County Nov. 1, 1964 30 FR 9897 Aug. 7, 1965
  Beaufort County Nov. 1, 1964 31 FR 5081 Mar. 29, 1966
  Bertie County Nov. 1, 1964 30 FR 9897 Aug. 7, 1965
  Bladen County Nov. 1, 1964 31 FR 5081 Mar. 29, 1966
  Camden County Nov. 1, 1964 31 FR 3317 Mar. 2, 1966
  Caswell County Nov. 1, 1964 30 FR 9897 Aug. 7, 1965
  Chowan County Nov. 1, 1964 30 FR 9897 Aug. 7, 1965
  Cleveland County Nov. 1, 1964 31 FR 5081 Mar. 29, 1966
  Craven County Nov. 1, 1964 30 FR 9897 Aug. 7, 1965
  Cumberland County Nov. 1, 1964 30 FR 9897 Aug. 7, 1965
  Edgecombe County Nov. 1, 1964 30 FR 9897 Aug. 7, 1965
  Franklin County Nov. 1, 1964 30 FR 9897 Aug. 7, 1965
  Gaston County Nov. 1, 1964 31 FR 5081 Mar. 29, 1966
  Gates County Nov. 1, 1964 30 FR 9897 Aug. 7, 1965
  Granville County Nov. 1, 1964 30 FR 9897 Aug. 7, 1965
  Greene County Nov. 1, 1964 30 FR 9897 Aug. 7, 1965
  Guilford County Nov. 1, 1964 31 FR 5081 Mar. 29, 1966
  Halifax County Nov. 1, 1964 30 FR 9897 Aug. 7, 1965
  Harnett County Nov. 1, 1964 31 FR 5081 Mar. 29, 1966
  Hertford County Nov. 1, 1964 30 FR 9897 Aug. 7, 1965
  Hoke County Nov. 1, 1964 30 FR 9897 Aug. 7, 1965
  Jackson County Nov. 1, 1972 40 FR 49422 Oct. 22, 1975
  Lee County Nov. 1, 1964 31 FR 5081 Mar. 29, 1966
  Lenoir County Nov. 1, 1964 30 FR 9897 Aug. 7, 1965
  Martin County Nov. 1, 1964 31 FR 19 Jan. 4, 1966
  Nash County Nov. 1, 1964 30 FR 9897 Aug. 7, 1965
  Northampton County Nov. 1, 1964 30 FR 9897 Aug. 7, 1965
  Onslow County Nov. 1, 1964 30 FR 9897 Aug. 7, 1965
  Pasquotank County Nov. 1, 1964 30 FR 9897 Aug. 7, 1965
  Perquimans County Nov. 1, 1964 31 FR 3317 Mar. 2, 1966
  Person County Nov. 1, 1964 30 FR 9897 Aug. 7, 1965
  Pitt County Nov. 1, 1964 30 FR 9897 Aug. 7, 1965
  Robeson County Nov. 1, 1964 30 FR 9897 Aug. 7, 1965
  Rockingham County Nov. 1, 1964 31 FR 5081 Mar. 29, 1966
  Scotland County Nov. 1, 1964 30 FR 9897 Aug. 7, 1965
  Union County Nov. 1, 1964 31 FR 5081 Mar. 29, 1966
  Vance County Nov. 1, 1964 30 FR 9897 Aug. 7, 1965
  Washington County Nov. 1, 1964 31 FR 19 Jan. 4, 1966
  Wayne County Nov. 1, 1964 30 FR 9897 Aug. 7, 1965
  Wilson County Nov. 1, 1964 30 FR 9897 Aug. 7, 1965
South Dakota:        
  Shannon County Nov. 1, 1972 41 FR 784 Jan. 5, 1976
  Todd County Nov. 1, 1972 41 FR 784 Jan. 5, 1976


Covered Townships in
States Not Covered as a Whole
Applicable Date Fed. Register Date
Michigan:          
  Allegan County: Clyde Township Nov. 1, 1972 41 FR 34329 Aug. 13, 1976
  Saginaw County: Buena Vista Township Nov. 1, 1972 41 FR 34329 Aug. 13, 1976
Updated May 17, 2023