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For Release October 3, 2011

Voting Rights Act bailouts continue in the DC Court. Thus far this year, there have been 6 bailouts: Jefferson County (TX) Drainage District No. 7; Alta (CA) Irrigation District; the City of Manassas Park, VA; Rappahannock County, VA; the City of Bedford, VA; and Bedford County, VA. You can now add Culpeper County, VA to the list. And two more bailout agreements will be filed within the next week or so: the City of Williamsburg (VA) and James City County (VA).

A bailout means that these local governments will no longer be required to submit any of their voting changes to the Justice Department for preclearance review, and will give local election officials greater flexibility in making many routine voting and election changes that will assist voters.

J. Gerald Hebert, a solo practitioner in Alexandria, Virginia, handled all of these cases, often working with local counsel or the city or county attorney. Hebert is also currently representing several other local governments in California and Virginia who are pursuing bailouts.

Any person desiring a copy of any of the bailout papers may contact Gerry Hebert at the email address above.