EFFECT: Modifies the prohibition on the abridgment of voting rights to prohibit a political subdivision from engaging in actions or inactions that result in an actual denial of voting rights for members of a protected class (rather than prohibiting actions or inactions that result in, are likely to result in, or are intended to result in a material disparate burden on the ability or opportunity of members of a protected class to vote or participate in any stage of the political process).

Modifies the second prong of the standard required to overcome a challenge to an abridgement claim to require that there is no alternative policy or practice that is less restrictive and would achieve the political subdivision's stated interest (rather than there being no alternative policy or practice that would result in less of a disparate burden on members of a protected class).