<P> Congress revisited the Act in 1975, the year that the Act's special provisions were again set to expire . The debate was less acrimonious than previous debates concerning the Act, reflecting an expanded consensus in Congress that the law remained necessary to remedy continued racial discrimination in voting . Unlike Nixon, President Gerald Ford's administration, which worked to improve relations with African Americans after Nixon's presidency, supported extending the Act without weakening it . After conducting several hearings, Congress passed legislation amending the Act; the Senate approved the amendments by a 77 - 12 vote, and the House of Representatives by a 346 - 56 vote . President Ford signed the amendments into law on August 6, 1975 . </P> <P> The amendments extended the Act's special provisions for seven years . Congress chose seven years to avoid having to reconsider the special provisions during the 1980s reapportionment process . Relatedly, Congress amended the bailout provision to require covered jurisdictions seeking bailout to prove that they had not used a test or device in a discriminatory manner in the 17 - year period preceding their bailout request . Congress also expanded the coverage formula by adding new dates in 1972 as triggering dates, which brought more jurisdictions into coverage . Furthermore, Congress made permanent the nationwide prohibition on tests or devices . </P> <P> The 1975 amendments also expanded voting rights for minority groups that traditionally had fallen outside the Act's protections . Civil rights organizations representing Hispanic, Asian American, Native Alaskan, and Native American interests argued before Congress that such groups often were the victims of discriminatory voting practices, particularly in areas where English was not the dominant language . After Congress heard testimony of language discrimination in voting, Congresswoman Barbara Jordan (D - TX) successfully led an effort to amend the Act to protect language minorities . Specifically, Congress amended the definition of "test or device" to prohibit laws requiring ballots and voting information be provided exclusively in English in jurisdictions where a single - language minority group comprised more than 5% of the voting - age population . This in turn expanded the coverage formula to reach states such as Texas that Congress wanted to cover . Congress also enacted bilingual election requirements, which require election officials in certain jurisdictions to provide ballots and voting information in the language of language minority groups . </P> <P> As the special provisions neared expiration again, Congress reconsidered the Act in 1982 . Organizations in The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the National Education Association (NEA), organized to pressure Congress both to extend the special provisions and to expand the Act's general prohibition on discriminatory voting laws . Congressional opponents of the amendments had little support for their positions outside of Congress . </P>

The 1982 amendments to the voting rights act of 1965 resulted in quizlet