119-s2523

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2523 Introduced in Senate

    (IS) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 S. 2523

 To amend the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to revise the criteria for 
 determining which States and political subdivisions are subject to 
 

section 4 of the Act, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

 July 29, 2025

Mr. Durbin (for himself, Mr. Warnock, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Schumer, Mr. 
Booker, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Markey, Mr. Hickenlooper, Ms. 
 Rosen, Mr. Fetterman, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Bennet, Mr. 
 Schiff, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Heinrich, Mr. Reed, Mr. Kim, Mr. Welch, Mr. 
Wyden, Mr. Coons, Ms. Hirono, Mrs. Gillibrand, Ms. Warren, Ms. Baldwin, 
Ms. Hassan, Mr. Gallego, Ms. Cortez Masto, Mr. Kaine, Ms. Slotkin, Mr. 
 Warner, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Ossoff, Mr. Kelly, Ms. Blunt Rochester, Ms. 
Cantwell, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Peters, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Lujan, Ms. Smith, 
 Mr. King, Mr. Merkley, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Schatz, and Ms. Alsobrooks) 
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the 
 Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To amend the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to revise the criteria for 
 determining which States and political subdivisions are subject to 
 

section 4 of the Act, and for other purposes.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

 This Act may be cited as the ``John R. Lewis Voting Rights 
Advancement Act of 2025''.

 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.''.
            (c) Vote Denial or Abridgement.--

Section 2 of such Act (52 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;
            (C) in paragraph

    (1)
        (A) , by striking ``(in the case 
 of a 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) ,''.
            (c) Facilitating Bailout.--

Section 4

    (a) of the Voting 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 2025, 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 2025.
 ``

    (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.
            (c) Transferral of Authority Over Observers to the Attorney 
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
            (C) in subsection
            (c) , by adding at the end the 
 following: ``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 register, to cast a 
ballot, or to have that ballot counted 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.''.
            (c) Judicial Relief.--

Section 204 of the Voting Rights 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 2025 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 2025,'' 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.
            (c) Grounds for Stay or Vacatur in Federal Claims Involving 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
            (C) in subsection

    (e) , by striking the first and 
 second 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) .
            (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 

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 2025 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.
            (c) Small Jurisdiction Defined.--For purposes of this 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.''.
 <all>