Mccain et al. v. Lybrand et al. (465 U.S. 236)
U.S. Supreme Court · decided February 21, 1984 · Supreme Court Database (Spaeth)
- Citation
- 465 U.S. 236 · 104 S. Ct. 1037
- Decided
- February 21, 1984
- Term
- October Term 1983
- Vote
- 9–0
- Majority author
- Justice Stevens
- Issue area
- Civil Rights
- Disposition
- Reversed and remanded
- Outcome
- Petitioning party won
- Ideological direction
- Liberal
Opinion excerpt
Justice Stevens delivered the opinion of the Court. In 1966, South Carolina enacted a statute that altered Edgefield County’s election practices but the statute was not submitted to federal officials for their approval as required by the Voting Rights Act of 1965. In 1971, the statute was amended, modifying the 1966 election practices, and state officials submitted the amendment to the Attorney General for his approval. In response to a request from the Attorney General, state officials provided him with additional documentation in support of their submission, including the 1966 statute. The Attorney General approved the submission, stating that he did not object to the change in question. The question in this case is whether the Attorney General’s approval of the 1971 submission can be deemed to have the effect of ratifying the changes embodied in the 1966 enactment. We hold that the 1966 changes have not been approved. HH As of November 1, 1964, local political authority in Edge-field County, South Carolina, was vested in a County Supervisor and a Board of County Commissioners. The County Supervisor, the chairman of the three-member Board, was elected at large for a 4-year term. The County Supervisor had jurisdiction over public roads, matters relating to county taxes and expenditures, and certain other matters. The other two seats on the Board were appointed offices. These…
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