Birmingham, AL – A federal judge in Washington will hear arguments Wednesday in Shelby County's challenge to parts of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
Shelby County is challenging parts of the act that require some states, including Alabama, to get approval from the U.S. Justice Department before making changes to voting regulations. Shelby County argues that the 45-year-old law unfairly presumes the some areas would unfairly disenfranchise minority voters.
The Justice Department and civil rights groups plan to defend the law during the hearing before U.S. District Judge John Bates.
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