Shelby County v. Holder
This page analyzes a single policy using structured scoring, historical evidence, source quality, and measurable outcomes.
Summary
Supreme Court decision that invalidated the coverage formula used for federal preclearance under the Voting Rights Act.
How to Read This Record
Impact Reading
Very high documented impact
Evidence Base
Strong evidence from Government, Archive sources.
Data Completeness
Complete record with 6 sources and 1 metric.
Outcome Summary
Weakened one of the most important federal voting-rights enforcement tools.
Categories
Impact Scores
This score is a structured measure of how directly and materially this policy affected Black communities, weighted by evidence, durability, and equity. Harm offset reduces the total score.
Total Impact Score
40
Directness
5
How explicitly the policy targeted or affected Black communities.
Material Impact
5
The practical real-world effect on conditions, rights, or outcomes.
Evidence
5
Strength of sourcing and historical support for the assessment.
Durability
5
How lasting the effects of the policy were over time.
Equity
5
Whether the policy advanced fairness, inclusion, or equal access.
Harm Offset
0
Any offsetting harms, limitations, exclusions, or contradictory effects that reduce the total.
Scoring Notes: Major rollback of federal voting-rights enforcement.
Metrics
Federal preclearance coverage formula enforceability
Black voters in formerly covered jurisdictions • Covered jurisdictions
Before
1.00
2012 • binary
After
0.00
2013 • binary
Methodology: Represents the effective invalidation of the preclearance coverage formula used for Voting Rights Act enforcement.
Related Policies
These relationships show how this policy connects to other laws, court decisions, or reforms over time.
Shelby County v. Holder invalidated the coverage formula, weakening federal preclearance protections.
Current Reform Connections
These future-bill concepts are connected to this policy through shared explainers, then linked forward to real tracked bills and current legislator scorecards.
John Lewis Voting Access Restoration Act
Voting Rights • Idea
Voter suppression tactics continue to disproportionately affect Black communities.
Linked Legislator Scorecards
Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12]
Cosponsor • House • D • NC
Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7]
Cosponsor • House • D • MA
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
Cosponsor • House • D • DC
Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7]
Primary Sponsor • House • D • AL
Suggested Relationships
These policies may be related based on shared categories, era, and proximity in time.
2021 • Law • Democratic Party
Contemporary Era • Blocked
Shared Categories: 1 • Year Distance: 8
2021 • Court Case • Unknown party
Contemporary Era • Negative
Shared Categories: 1 • Year Distance: 8
2021 • Law • Democratic Party
Contemporary Era • Blocked
Shared Categories: 1 • Year Distance: 8
2021 • Law • Democratic Party
Contemporary Era • Blocked
Shared Categories: 1 • Year Distance: 8
1993 • Law • Democratic Party
Contemporary Era • Positive
Shared Categories: 1 • Year Distance: 20
2006 • Law • Republican Party
Post Civil Rights Era • Positive
Shared Categories: 1 • Year Distance: 7
Sources
Effects of Shelby County v. Holder on the Voting Rights Act
Brennan Center for Justice • Nonprofit
Research summary explaining how the ruling weakened preclearance and opened the door to restrictive voting laws.
View sourceShelby County v. Holder
Brennan Center for Justice • Nonprofit
Case overview summarizing the decision and the role of the Voting Rights Act provision that was struck down.
View sourceShelby County v. Holder Supreme Court Opinion
Supreme Court / Justia • Government
Opinion text for the 2013 decision invalidating the Section 4 coverage formula used for preclearance.
View source