Guardian questions DoJ turnout data cited in Alito’s VRA ruling
Guardian reviewers say Alito’s claim that Black turnout exceeded White turnout in Louisiana and nationwide rested on a DoJ analysis that used the total voting-age population (including ineligible voters) rather than the citizen voting-age population, inflating turnout. When recalculated with citizen voting-age population, Black turnout only exceeded White turnout in 2012 Louisiana; experts warn the DoJ method and cherry-picked years misrepresent progress on voting rights and highlight that the Shelby County v. Holder decision coincided with a widening turnout gap.