Uploaded March 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
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Georgia v. Ashcroft
United States Supreme Court
539 U.S. 461 (2003)
Section five of the Voting Rights Act requires covered states to seek federal preclearance of a proposed redistricting plan to ensure that the plan neither denies nor limits a racial minority's right to vote.
Section five prohibits any change that would lead to a retrogression or reduction in minority voters' effective exercise of the franchise.
In Georgia versus Ashcroft, the court considered how to assess whether a redistricting plan is retrogressive.
In nineteen ninety seven, Georgia established a redistricting plan for its state senate districts. This plan included ten districts with a black voting age population that exceeded fifty percent.
In several of these districts, black voters comprised a super majority of at least sixty percent. The plan also included eight districts with a black voting age population between thirty and fifty percent.
After the two thousand census, Georgia created a new redistricting plan. Thirteen districts now had a majority black voting age population. But in three of these districts, the percentage of black voters decreased from a super majority to a simple majority.
Another thirteen districts had a black voting age population of less than fifty percent, but large enough to influence election outcomes.
In an additional four districts, black voters comprised between twenty five and thirty percent of the population.
These voters would need to form coalitions with other groups to elect their chosen candidates.
Georgia sought preclearance at district court, but the federal government opposed the plan as retrogressive, citing the three districts where the black voters' super majority was reduced. The district court denied preclearance.
Georgia appealed to the United States Supreme Court.
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Get more case briefs explained with Quimbee. Quimbee has over 42,700 case briefs (and counting) keyed to 988 casebooks ► quimbee.com/case-briefs-overview
Georgia v. Ashcroft
United States Supreme Court
539 U.S. 461 (2003)
Section five of the Voting Rights Act requires covered states to seek federal preclearance of a proposed redistricting plan to ensure that the plan neither denies nor limits a racial minority's right to vote.
Section five prohibits any change that would lead to a retrogression or reduction in minority voters' effective exercise of the franchise.
In Georgia versus Ashcroft, the court considered how to assess whether a redistricting plan is retrogressive.
In nineteen ninety seven, Georgia established a redistricting plan for its state senate districts. This plan included ten districts with a black voting age population that exceeded fifty percent.
In several of these districts, black voters comprised a super majority of at least sixty percent. The plan also included eight districts with a black voting age population between thirty and fifty percent.
After the two thousand census, Georgia created a new redistricting plan. Thirteen districts now had a majority black voting age population. But in three of these districts, the percentage of black voters decreased from a super majority to a simple majority.
Another thirteen districts had a black voting age population of less than fifty percent, but large enough to influence election outcomes.
In an additional four districts, black voters comprised between twenty five and thirty percent of the population.
These voters would need to form coalitions with other groups to elect their chosen candidates.
Georgia sought preclearance at district court, but the federal government opposed the plan as retrogressive, citing the three districts where the black voters' super majority was reduced. The district court denied preclearance.
Georgia appealed to the United States Supreme Court.
Want more details on this case? Get the rule of law, issues, holding and reasonings, and more case facts here: quimbee.com/cases/georgia-v-ashcroft
The Quimbee App features over 42,700 case briefs keyed to 988 casebooks. Try it free for 7 days! ► quimbee.com/case-briefs-overview
Have Questions about this Case? Submit your questions and get answers from a real attorney here: quimbee.com/cases/georgia-v-ashcroft
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