(a) Coverage formula. There are four ways in which a political subdivision can become subject to section 203(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), 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) are made with regard to specific language groups of the language minorities listed in section 203(e).