Cite as: 520 U. S. 273 (1997)
Opinion of the Court
Malcolm L. Stewart argued the cause for the United States as amicus curiae urging reversal. With him on the brief were Acting Solicitor General Dellinger, Assistant Attorney General Patrick, Deputy Solicitor General Waxman, and Steven H. Rosenbaum.
Robert E. Sanders, Assistant Attorney General of Mississippi, argued the cause for appellees. With him on the brief was Mike Moore, Attorney General.*
Justice Breyer delivered the opinion of the Court. The question before us is whether § 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, 79 Stat. 439, as amended, 42 U. S. C. § 1973c (§ 5), requires preclearance of certain changes that Mississippi made in its voter registration procedures—changes that Mississippi made in order to comply with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. We hold that § 5 does require preclearance.
I
A
The National Voter Registration Act
Congress enacted the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA), 107 Stat. 77, 42 U. S. C. § 1973gg et seq., to take effect for States like Mississippi on January 1, 1995. The NVRA requires States to provide simplified systems for registering to vote in federal elections, i. e., elections for federal officials, such as the President, congressional Representatives, and United States Senators. The States must provide a system for voter registration by mail, § 1973gg-4, a system for voter registration at various state offices (including those that provide "public assistance" and those that provide services to people with disabilities), § 1973gg-5, and, particularly important, a system for voter registration on a driver's license application, § 1973gg-3. The NVRA speci-*Juan Cartagena filed a brief for the Community Service Society of New York et al. as amici curiae urging reversal.
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