Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act

Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act required certain states and districts with a history of voter suppression to get federal approval—called "preclearance"—before changing their voting laws or practices. This aimed to prevent discriminatory changes that could restrict voting rights of minorities. However, the Supreme Court invalidated this section in 2013, ruling that the coverage formula was outdated and unconstitutional. As a result, many jurisdictions no longer needed federal approval for voting law changes, reducing federal oversight in these areas.