Which state has the most African-American elected officials? Mississippi. In fact the Magnolia State and its Southern brethren lead the country in many categories of black voting prowess and electoral power. For instance, when the Census Bureau compared racial disparities in voting registration and turnout, the top 10 — i.e., the states where differences were the smallest — included Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia, with Louisiana, South Carolina and Texas not far behind. In fact, black voters in Mississippi and Alabama actually turn out in higher percentages than their white counterparts. . . The fact that Section 5 directs the federal government to treat some states differently raises serious constitutional concerns. Even more problematic is that Congress has not updated the Section 5 coverage formula since 1972. This formula is so out-of-date that if applied today it would only cover Hawaii. . . The criteria the court used to justify Section 5’s admittedly heavy burdens are weak at best. For instance, the court looked to the quantity of Department of Justice Section 5 actions — e.g., information requests and objections. It concluded that this activity demonstrated persistent problems in covered jurisdictions. A cynic might opine this activity derives from DOJ agents with political agendas seeking to justify their positions.