---
kind: "section"
citation: "28 C.F.R. § 55.6"
title: "28"
number: "55.6"
heading: "Coverage under section 203(c)."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/28/55.6"
---

# §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)](/cfr/28/203.md?p=c). 2
  - (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)](/cfr/28/203.md?p=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)](/cfr/28/203.md?p=c) are made with regard to specific language groups of the language minorities listed in [section 203(e)](/cfr/28/203.md?p=e).

## Notes

### Amendments

[Order No. 1752-93, 58 FR 35372, July 1, 1993]

### Authority

Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 28 U.S.C. 509, 510; 42 U.S.C. 1973b, 1973j(d), 1973aa-la, 1973aa-2.

### Source

Source: Order No. 655-76, 41 FR 29998, July 20, 1976, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[Order No. 1752-93, 58 FR 35372, July 1, 1993]