PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. — The federal government has given a pass to Prince William County when it comes to officials deciding where voters will go to the polls.
Since the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was enacted, Prince William and jurisdictions in nine other states had to report changes in voting districts, as well as changes in the hours polling places would be open, even changes in the names of polling places to the federal government, under section five of the Voting Rights Act. The requirement known as “preclearance,” was adhered to as recently as last year during the decennial political redistricting process, when changes to local magisterial districts voted upon by the Prince William County Board of Supervisors was submitted to the federal government for approval.
This action was taken to help prevent racially motivated disenfranchisement of voters by providing federal oversight of such matters as redistricting and the conduct of elections
The waiver, known as a bailout, is the largest such exemption granted to any jurisdiction in the U.S. forced to comply with rules put forth in the Voting Rights Act, stated Prince William County officials.
This is a developing story and we’ll have more on this soon.
