A ruling that places limits on voting-rights lawsuits cut against years of decisions by other courts. Photo: Thomas Metthe/Associated PressA federal appeals court ruled Monday that voters alleging discrimination in election rules don’t have a right to sue, a decision that could have a sweeping impact on voting rights if adopted by other courts. The Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in a 2-to-1 ruling, held that private plaintiffs can’t bring legal claims under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, a bedrock provision of the 1965 law that prohibits discriminatory voting practices. Instead, only the U.S. attorney general can bring such lawsuits, the court said.

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Persons: Thomas Metthe Organizations: Press, Eighth U.S, Circuit, Appeals