Final answer:
The Supreme Court's decision in Shelby vs. Holder removed the preclearance requirement of the Voting Rights Act, allowing states to change voting laws without federal approval. This led to the implementation of laws that could restrict voting access, particularly for minority and low-income voters. Legal challenges to these new restrictions emerged subsequent to the decision.
Step-by-step explanation:
The 2013 Supreme Court decision in Shelby vs. Holder significantly impacted the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The Supreme Court ruled that the coverage formula which determined which states required federal approval to change voting laws, also known as preclearance, was outdated and unconstitutional. This decision eliminated the requirement that certain states with a history of racial discrimination in voting obtain federal clearance before changing their voting laws or practices.
As a result, various states quickly enacted laws that introduced stricter voter identification requirements, reduced early voting, placed limits on ballot drop-off locations, and made the registration and voting process more burdensome. These changes have been seen as potential barriers to voting, disproportionately affecting minority and low-income voters. Some of these new restrictions have since been challenged in courts.