HJR 14-1009 Summary

• Colorado General Assembly urges Congress to update the formula in Section 4 of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 as quickly as possible to restore Section 5 preclearance protections.

• The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June 2013 that Section 4's coverage formula was unconstitutional, which disabled the preclearance requirement under Section 5 that prevented jurisdictions from enacting new voting law changes without federal approval.

• A new formula could be based on established data including minority population size, voter turnout rates, voting discrimination lawsuits, and prevalence of racially polarized voting patterns.

• Prior to Section 4's invalidation, federal courts in Texas, Florida, and Alabama ruled proposed voting law changes unconstitutional, demonstrating continued need for preclearance protections.

• Copies of the resolution shall be transmitted to the President, Congress members, Congressional Black Caucus, National Black Caucus of State Legislators, National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women, and Congressional Hispanic Caucus.