Redistricting and the 2010 Census: Enforcing Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act

This Report examines the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division’s (DOJ’s) enforcement of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act (Section 5) in the 2011-2012 redistricting cycle. Section 5 requires certain jurisdictions with a history of discrimination to obtain preclearance from DOJ or the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia for any proposed changes to their voting practices and procedures, including redistricting plans.