DOJ reverses: preclears Kinston nonpartisan voting

Late Friday night, the Department of Justice filed with the Court of Appeals a copy of a letter informing Kinston, North Carolina officials that it had reversed its 2009 decision denying preclearance to the nonpartisan voting system passed by voter referendum in 2008.  As noted in the update below, CIR believes its clients are entitled to a judgement on the merits of their challenge to the constitutionality of the Section 5 preclearance requirements as a whole, notwithstanding the Attorney General’s reversal of the specific decision that gave rise to their suit.  Otherwise, Kinston’s election procedures will continue to be governed by Section 5’s unconstitutional preclearance standards.

• Read a copy of the 2-10-12 letter
• Read National Review Corner post by Hans Von Spakovsky
• Read post by Election Law Blog moderator Rick Hasen
• Learn more about the case