Mobile v. Bolden 446 U.S. 55 (1980)

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MOBILE v. BOLDEN 446 U.S. 55 (1980)

A fragmented Supreme Court majority upheld, 6–3, Mobile's at-large system for electing city commissioners, although the system diluted the voting strength of black voters by submerging them in a white majority. The plurality found that purposeful racial discrimination had not been demonstrated. (See washington v. davis; rogers v. lodge.) In 1982 Congress amended the voting rights act of 1965 to permit reliance on racially discriminatory "results" to show a violation of the act's prohibitions.

Kenneth L. Karst
(1986)

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