The Justice Department announced that it has reached an agreement with the City of Wheatland, Calif., that, if approved by the court, will allow it to bail out from its status as a “covered jurisdiction” under the special provisions of the Voting Rights Act, and thereby exempt the city from the preclearance requirements of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. Wheatland is located in Yuba County, Calif., which is a jurisdiction subject to Section 5. The agreement is in the form of a consent decree filed today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
The City of Wheatland filed its bailout action in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on Jan. 14, 2013. City officials had contacted the attorney general prior to filing its action, indicating that the City was interested in seeking a bailout. The city provided the Justice Department with substantial information, and the department conducted an investigation to determine the city’s eligibility. Based on that investigation, the department is satisfied that the city of Wheatland meets the Voting Rights Act’s requirements for bailout.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote!
Michael H. Drucker
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