Of those who bothered to vote in April, 91% wanted reform, but the turnout was a shade under 50%, too low for the change to take effect.

ECONOMIST: Unchanging Italy

"It is unlikely that Congress intended the provision to have such limited effect, " Roberts said at the time, in the face of statistics showing voter turnout and registration rates reaching parity between the races in most areas of the country.

CNN: Court upholds key tool of Voting Rights Act