SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Voting Rights Ad-
vancement Act of 2019’’. 
SEC. 2. VIOLATIONS TRIGGERING AUTHORITY OF COURT 
TO RETAIN JURISDICTION. 
(a) TYPES OF VIOLATIONS.—Section 3(c) of the Vot-
ing 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, vio-
lations 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. 3. CRITERIA FOR COVERAGE OF STATES AND POLIT-
ICAL 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 amend-
ed to read as follows: 
‘‘(b) DETERMINATION OF STATES AND POLITICAL 
SUBDIVISIONS SUBJECT TO REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) EXISTENCE
OF
VOTING
RIGHTS
VIOLA-
TIONS DURING PREVIOUS 25 YEARS.— 
‘‘(A) 
STATEWIDE
APPLICATION.—Sub-
section (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 vio-
lations occurred in the State during the 
previous 25 calendar years; or 
‘‘(ii) ten or more voting rights viola-
tions occurred in the State during the pre-
vious 25 calendar years, at least one of 
which was committed by the State itself 
(as opposed to a political subdivision with-
in the State). 
‘‘(B) APPLICATION TO SPECIFIC POLITICAL 
SUBDIVISIONS.—Subsection (a) applies with re-
spect to a political subdivision as a separate 
unit during a calendar year if three or more
voting rights violations occurred in the subdivi-
sion 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 pe-
riod— 
‘‘(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 de-
claratory judgment under subsection (a), 
and the judgment remains in effect, sub-
section (a) shall no longer apply to such 
State pursuant to paragraph (1)(A) unless, 
after the issuance of the declaratory judg-
ment, 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 sub-
division pursuant to paragraph (1), includ-
ing pursuant to paragraph (1)(A) (relating 
to the statewide application of subsection 
(a)), unless, after the issuance of the de-
claratory judgment, paragraph (1)(B) ap-
plies to the political subdivision solely on 
the basis of voting rights violations occur-
ring after the issuance of the declaratory 
judgment. 
‘‘(3) DETERMINATION OF VOTING RIGHTS VIO-
LATION.—For purposes of paragraph (1), a voting 
rights violation occurred in a State or political sub-
division if any of the following applies: 
‘‘(A) FINAL
JUDGMENT; VIOLATION
OF 
THE 14TH OR 15TH AMENDMENT.—In a final 
judgment (which has not been reversed on ap-
peal), any court of the United States has deter-
mined that a denial or abridgement of the right
(e) or (f), or section 2 or 203 of this Act, or 
the 14th or 15th Amendment. 
‘‘(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 sub-
section, including updating the list of voting 
rights violations occurring in each State and po-
litical subdivision for the previous calendar 
year. 
‘‘(B) EFFECTIVE
UPON
PUBLICATION
IN 
FEDERAL REGISTER.—A determination or cer-
tification of the Attorney General under this 
section or under section 8 or 13 shall be effec-
tive 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 dur-
ing 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 pur-
suant to determinations made with respect to 
such subdivision as a separate unit under sub-
section (b), unless’’; 
(B) in paragraph (1) in the matter pre-
ceding subparagraph (A), by striking the second 
sentence; 
(C) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking ‘‘(in 
the case of a State or subdivision seeking a de-
claratory 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 de-
claratory judgment under the second sentence 
of this subsection)’’; 
(E) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘(in the 
case of a State or subdivision seeking a declara-
tory 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)) is amended by striking ‘‘race 
or color,’’ and inserting ‘‘race, color, or in contravention 
of the guarantees of subsection (f)(2),’’. 
SEC. 4. DETERMINATION OF STATES AND POLITICAL SUB-
DIVISIONS 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 polit-
ical 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 po-
litical subdivision, as the case may be, complies 
with subsection (c). 
‘‘(2) DETERMINATIONS
OF
CHARACTERISTICS 
OF VOTING-AGE POPULATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—As early as prac-
ticable 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 sec-
tion regarding voting-age populations and the 
characteristics of such populations, and shall 
publish a list of the States and political subdivi-
sions to which a voting-age population char-
acteristic described in subsection (b) applies. 
‘‘(B) PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REG-
ISTER.—A determination or certification of the
Attorney General under this paragraph shall be 
effective upon publication in the Federal Reg-
ister. 
‘‘(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 fol-
lowing shall be covered practices subject to the require-
ments 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 lan-
guage minority groups each represent 20 
percent or more of the political subdivi-
sion’s voting-age population; or 
‘‘(ii) a single language minority group 
represents 20 percent or more of the vot-
ing-age population on Indian lands located 
in whole or in part in the political subdivi-
sion; 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 lan-
guage minority groups each represent 20 
percent or more of the political subdivi-
sion’s voting-age population; or 
‘‘(ii) a single language minority group 
represents 20 percent or more of the vot-
ing-age population on Indian lands located 
in whole or in part in the political subdivi-
sion. 
‘‘(2) CHANGES
TO
JURISDICTION
BOUND-
ARIES.—Any change or series of changes within a 
year to the boundaries of a jurisdiction that reduces 
by 3 or more percentage points the proportion of the 
jurisdiction’s voting-age population that is comprised 
of members of a single racial group or language mi-
nority group in a State or political subdivision 
where— 
‘‘(A) two or more racial groups or lan-
guage minority groups each represent 20 per-
cent or more of the political subdivision’s vot-
ing-age population; or 
‘‘(B) a single language minority group rep-
resents 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 election districts in 
a State or political subdivision where any racial 
group or language minority group experiences a pop-
ulation increase, over the preceding decade (as cal-
culated by the Bureau of the Census under the most 
recent decennial census), of at least— 
‘‘(A) 10,000; or 
‘‘(B) 20 percent of voting-age population 
of the State or political subdivision, as the case 
may be. 
‘‘(4) CHANGES IN DOCUMENTATION OR QUALI-
FICATIONS TO VOTE.—Any change to requirements 
for documentation or proof of identity to vote such 
that the requirements will exceed or be more strin-
gent than the requirements for voting that are de-
scribed in section 303(b) of the Help America Vote 
Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21083(b)) or any change to 
the requirements for documentation or proof of iden-
tity to register to vote that will exceed or be more 
stringent than such requirements under State law on 
the day before the date of enactment of the Voting 
Rights Advancement Act of 2019. 
‘‘(5) CHANGES TO MULTILINGUAL VOTING MA-
TERIALS.—Any change that reduces multilingual 
voting materials or alters the manner in which such 
materials are provided or distributed, where no simi-
lar reduction or alteration occurs in materials pro-
vided in English for such election. 
‘‘(6) CHANGES THAT REDUCE, CONSOLIDATE, 
OR RELOCATE VOTING LOCATIONS, OR REDUCE VOT-
ING
OPPORTUNITIES.—Any change that reduces, 
consolidates, or relocates voting locations, 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 during which voters may cast ballots 
in such election— 
‘‘(A) in one or more census tracts wherein 
two or more language minority groups or racial 
groups each represent 20 percent or more of 
the voting-age population of the political sub-
division; or
‘‘(B) on Indian lands wherein 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 of voter registration lists 
that adds a new basis for removal from the list of 
active registered voters or that puts in place a new 
process for removing a name from the list of active 
registered voters— 
‘‘(A) in the case of a political subdivision 
imposing such change if— 
‘‘(i) two or more racial groups or lan-
guage minority groups each represent 20 
percent or more of the voting-age popu-
lation of the political subdivision; or 
‘‘(ii) a single language minority group 
represents 20 percent or more of the vot-
ing-age population on Indian lands located 
in whole or in part in the political subdivi-
sion; or 
‘‘(B) in the case of a State imposing such 
change, if two or more racial groups or lan-
guage minority groups each represent 20 per-
cent 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 subdivi-
sion. 
‘‘(c) PRECLEARANCE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Whenever a State or polit-
ical subdivision with respect to which the require-
ments set forth in subsection (a) are in effect shall 
enact, adopt, or seek to implement any covered prac-
tice 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 prac-
tice 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 imple-
mented. Notwithstanding the previous sentence, such 
covered practice may be implemented without such 
proceeding if the covered practice has been sub-
mitted by the chief legal officer or other appropriate 
official of such State or subdivision to the Attorney 
General and the Attorney General has not inter-
posed an objection within 60 days after such submis-
sion, or upon good cause shown, to facilitate an ex-
pedited approval within 60 days after such submis-
sion, the Attorney General has affirmatively indi-
cated that such objection will not be made. 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 judg-
ment entered under this section shall bar a subse-
quent action to enjoin implementation of such cov-
ered practice. In the event the Attorney General af-
firmatively indicates that no objection will be made 
within the 60-day period following receipt of a sub-
mission, the Attorney General may reserve the right 
to reexamine the submission if additional informa-
tion comes to the Attorney General’s attention dur-
ing the remainder of the 60-day period which would 
otherwise require objection in accordance with this 
section. Any action under this section shall be heard 
and determined by a court of three judges in accord-
ance 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 member-
ship in a language minority group, to elect their pre-
ferred candidates of choice denies or abridges the 
right to vote within the meaning of paragraph (1) of 
this subsection. 
‘‘(3) PURPOSE DEFINED.—The term ‘purpose’ 
in paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection shall in-
clude any discriminatory purpose. 
‘‘(4) PURPOSE OF PARAGRAPH (2).—The pur-
pose of paragraph (2) of this subsection 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 Federal district 
court to compel any State or political subdivision to satisfy 
the obligations set forth in this section. Such actions 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 any voting 
qualification or prerequisite to voting, or standard, prac-
tice, or procedure with respect to voting, that is the sub-
ject 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 re-
spect to voting, is not a covered practice described 
in subsection (b); or 
‘‘(2) the State or political subdivision has com-
plied 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 cal-
culation of the population of a racial group or a language 
minority group shall be carried out using the methodology 
in the guidance promulgated in the Federal Register on 
February 9, 2011 (76 Fed. Reg. 7470). 
‘‘(f) SPECIAL RULE.—For purposes of determina-
tions under this section, any data provided by the Bureau 
of the Census, whether based on estimation from 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, assist-
ance, or other materials or information relating to the 
electoral process, including ballots, provided in the lan-
guage or languages of one or more language minority 
groups.’’.
SEC. 5. PROMOTING TRANSPARENCY TO ENFORCE THE 
VOTING RIGHTS ACT. 
(a) TRANSPARENCY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Voting Rights Act of 
1965 (52 U.S.C. 10301 et seq.) is amended by in-
serting after section 5 the following new section: 
‘‘SEC. 6. TRANSPARENCY REGARDING CHANGES TO PRO-
TECT VOTING RIGHTS. 
‘‘(a) NOTICE OF ENACTED CHANGES.— 
‘‘(1) NOTICE OF CHANGES.—If a State or polit-
ical subdivision makes any change in any pre-
requisite to voting or standard, practice, or proce-
dure with respect to voting in any election for Fed-
eral office that will result in the prerequisite, stand-
ard, 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 polit-
ical subdivision shall provide reasonable public notice 
in such State or political subdivision and on the 
Internet, of a concise description of the change, in-
cluding the difference between the changed pre-
requisite, standard, practice, or procedure and the 
prerequisite, standard, practice, or procedure which 
was previously in effect. The public notice described 
in this paragraph, in such State or political subdivi-
sion and on the Internet, shall be in a format that
is reasonably convenient and accessible to voters 
with disabilities, including voters who have low vi-
sion or are blind. 
‘‘(2) DEADLINE FOR NOTICE.—A State or polit-
ical subdivision shall provide the public notice re-
quired 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 reg-
istered 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 Internet, of the 
information described in paragraph (2) for precincts 
and polling places within such State or political sub-
division. The public notice described in this para-
graph, in such State or political subdivision and on 
the Internet, shall be in a format that is reasonably 
convenient and accessible to voters with disabilities 
including voters who have low vision or are blind.
‘‘(2) INFORMATION DESCRIBED.—The informa-
tion 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 lo-
cation, including the street address, and wheth-
er 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 as-
signed 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 as-
signed, including the number of voting ma-
chines accessible to voters with disabilities, in-
cluding voters 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 Internet, 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 in such 
State or political subdivision and on the Internet 
shall be in a format that is reasonably convenient 
and accessible to voters with disabilities including 
voters who have low vision or are blind. 
‘‘(c) TRANSPARENCY OF CHANGES RELATING TO DE-
MOGRAPHICS 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 (in-
cluding 
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 Internet, of the 
demographic and electoral data described in para-
graph (3) for each of the geographic areas described 
in paragraph (2). 
‘‘(2) GEOGRAPHIC AREAS DESCRIBED.—The ge-
ographic 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 re-
place or eliminate voting units or electoral dis-
tricts, each voting unit or electoral district that 
will be replaced or eliminated. 
‘‘(C) If the change includes a plan to es-
tablish 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 de-
scribed in paragraph (2) are each of the following: 
‘‘(A) The voting-age population, broken 
down by demographic group. 
‘‘(B) If it is reasonably available to the 
State or political subdivision involved, an esti-
mate of the population of the area which con-
sists of citizens of the United States who are 18 
years of age or older, broken down by demo-
graphic group. 
‘‘(C) The number of registered voters, bro-
ken down by demographic group if such break-
down is reasonably available to the State or po-
litical subdivision involved. 
‘‘(D)(i) If the change applies to a State, 
the actual number of votes, or (if it is not rea-
sonably practicable for the State to ascertain 
the actual number of votes) the estimated num-
ber 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 polit-
ical subdivision, the actual number of votes, or 
(if it is not reasonably practicable for the polit-
ical subdivision to ascertain the actual 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 JU-
RISDICTIONS.—Compliance with this subsection shall 
be voluntary for a political subdivision of a State un-
less 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 Bu-
reau of the Census under the most recent de-
cennial census. 
‘‘(C) A school district with a population 
greater than 10,000, as determined by the Bu-
reau of the Census under the most recent de-
cennial census. For purposes of this subpara-
graph, the term ‘school district’ means the geo-
graphic area under the jurisdiction of a local 
educational agency (as defined in section 9101 
of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
Act of 1965).
‘‘(d) RULES REGARDING FORMAT
OF INFORMA-
TION.—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, 
standard, practice, or procedure if the State or political 
subdivision involved did not meet the applicable require-
ments 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 can-
didate for the office of President, Vice President, 
Presidential elector, Senator, Member of the House 
of Representatives, or Delegate or Resident Commis-
sioner 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.’’. 
(2) CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Section 3(a) 
of such Act (52 U.S.C. 10302(a)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘in accordance with section 6’’. 
(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. 6. 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 nec-
essary 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 BI-
LINGUAL 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 fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(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 organiza-
tions that efforts to violate section 203 are like-
ly to occur; or 
‘‘(B) in the Attorney General’s judgment, 
the assignment of observers is necessary to en-
force 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. 
SEC. 7. PRELIMINARY INJUNCTIVE RELIEF. 
(a) CLARIFICATION OF SCOPE AND PERSONS AU-
THORIZED TO SEEK RELIEF.—Section 12(d) of the Vot-
ing Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10308(d)) is amend-
ed— 
(1) by striking ‘‘section 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 11, 
or subsection (b) of this section’’ and inserting ‘‘the 
14th or 15th Amendment, this Act, or any Federal
voting rights law that prohibits discrimination on 
the basis of race, color, or membership in a language 
minority group’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘the Attorney General may in-
stitute for the United States, or in the name of the 
United States,’’ and inserting ‘‘the aggrieved person 
or (in the name of the United States) the Attorney 
General may institute’’. 
(b) GROUNDS
FOR
GRANTING
RELIEF.—Section 
12(d) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 10308(d)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘(d) Whenever any person’’ and 
inserting ‘‘(d)(1) Whenever any person’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘(1) to permit’’ and inserting 
‘‘(A) to permit’’; 
(3) by striking ‘‘(2) to count’’ and inserting 
‘‘(B) to count’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(2)(A) In any action for preliminary relief described 
in this subsection, the court shall grant the relief if the 
court determines that the complainant has raised a serious 
question whether the challenged voting qualification or 
prerequisite to voting or standard, practice, or procedure 
violates this Act or the Constitution and, on balance, the 
hardship imposed upon the defendant by the grant of the
relief will be less than the hardship which would be im-
posed upon the plaintiff if the relief were not granted. In 
balancing the harms, the court shall give due weight to 
the fundamental right to cast an effective ballot. 
‘‘(B) In making its determination under this para-
graph 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 Amend-
ment; 
‘‘(II) a violation of this Act; or 
‘‘(III) voting discrimination on the basis of 
race, color, or membership in a language minor-
ity 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 set-
tlement of a claim alleging— 
‘‘(I) discrimination on the basis of race or 
color in violation of the 14th or 15th Amend-
ment; 
‘‘(II) a violation of this Act; or 
‘‘(III) voting discrimination on the basis of 
race, color, or membership in a language minor-
ity 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 effect. 
‘‘(iv) Whether the defendant has failed to pro-
vide timely or complete notice of the adoption of the 
change as required by applicable Federal or State 
law.’’. 
(c) GROUNDS FOR STAY OR INTERLOCUTORY AP-
PEAL.—Section 12(d) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 10308(d)) 
is further amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(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 irrep-
arable harm to the public interest or to the interests of 
a defendant in an action arising under the U.S. Constitu-
tion or any Federal law that prohibits discrimination on 
the basis of race, color, or membership in a language mi-
nority group in the voting process, for the purposes of de-
termining whether a stay of a court’s order or an inter-
locutory appeal under section 1253 of title 28, United 
States Code, is warranted.’’. 
SEC. 8. 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 mean-
ing given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self- 
Determination and Education Assistance Act. 
‘‘(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 Settle-
ment 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 govern-
ment 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 Na-
tive 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. 
‘‘(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 sub-
division, or within a political subdivision that con-
tains Indian lands, as the case may be, that consists 
of persons age 18 or older, as calculated by the Bu-
reau of the Census under the most recent decennial 
census.’’. 
SEC. 9. 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. 10. OTHER TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMEND-
MENTS. 
(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). 
(c) PERIOD DURING WHICH CHANGES IN VOTING 
PRACTICES ARE 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 sec-
tion 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 cov-
erage’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(e) The term ‘applicable date of coverage’ means, 
with respect to a State or political subdivision— 
‘‘(1) June 25, 2013, if the most recent deter-
mination for such State or subdivision under section 
4(b) was made on or before December 31, 2019; or
‘‘(2) the date on which the most recent deter-
mination for such State or subdivision under section 
4(b) was made, if such determination was made 
after December 31, 2019.’’. 
Passed the House of Representatives December 6, 
2019. 
Attest: 
Clerk.