28 CFR § 55.6 - Coverage under section 203(c).
---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t28/s55.6"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "28 CFR § 55.6 - Coverage under section 203(c)."
title_number: 28
title_name: "Judicial Administration"
section_number: "55.6"
section_name: "Coverage under section 203(c)."
chapter_name: "DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE"
part_number: "55"
part_name: "IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT REGARDING LANGUAGE MINORITY GROUPS"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "5 U.S.C. 301; 28 U.S.C. 509, 510; 42 U.S.C. 1973b, 1973j(d), 1973aa-la, 1973aa-2."
regulatory_source: "Order No. 655-76, 41 FR 29998, July 20, 1976, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "55"
---
# 55.6 Coverage under section 203(c).
(a) *Coverage formula.* There are four ways in which a political subdivision can become subject to section 203(c).
<sup>2</sup>
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<sup>2</sup> The criteria for coverage are contained in section 203(b).
(1) *Political subdivision approach.* A political subdivision is covered if—
(i) More than 5 percent of its voting age citizens are members of a single language minority group and are limited-English proficient; and
(ii) The illiteracy rate of such language minority citizens in the political subdivision is higher than the national illiteracy rate.
(2) *State approach.* A political subdivision is covered if—
(i) It is located in a state in which more than 5 percent of the voting age citizens are members of a single language minority and are limited-English proficient;
(ii) The illiteracy rate of such language minority citizens in the state is higher than the national illiteracy rate; and
(iii) Five percent or more of the voting age citizens of the political subdivision are members of such language minority group and are limited-English proficient.
(3) *Numerical approach.* A political subdivision is covered if—
(i) More than 10,000 of its voting age citizens are members of a single language minority group and are limited-English proficient; and
(ii) The illiteracy rate of such language minority citizens in the political subdivision is higher than the national illiteracy rate.
(4) *Indian reservation approach.* A political subdivision is covered if there is located within its borders all or any part of an Indian reservation—
(i) In which more than 5 percent of the voting age American Indian or Alaska Native citizens are members of a single language minority group and are limited-English proficient; and
(ii) The illiteracy rate of such language minority citizens is higher than the national illiteracy rate.
(b) *Definitions.* For the purpose of determinations of coverage under section 203(c), *limited-English proficient* means unable to speak or understand English adequately enough to participate in the electoral process; *Indian reservation* means any area that is an American Indian or Alaska Native area, as defined by the Census Bureau for the purposes of the 1990 decennial census; and *illiteracy* means the failure to complete the fifth primary grade.
(c) *Determinations.* Determinations of coverage under section 203(c) are made with regard to specific language groups of the language minorities listed in section 203(e).
[Order No. 1752-93, 58 FR 35372, July 1, 1993]