Court Sets Jan 15 Deadline for Louisiana to Enact New Congressional Map

Current Map Criticized for Diluting Black Voters' Power; Lower Court to Decide on 2024 Elections Plan if Deadline Not Met

The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has given the Louisiana Legislature until January 15 to revise its congressional district map, which has been criticized for diluting the power of Black voters. The current map has only one Black-majority district out of six, despite Black residents making up one-third of the state's population.
The court's decision follows a similar case in Alabama, where the Supreme Court ordered the state to redraw its map to include a second district with a majority-Black population. The Louisiana case had been on hold for two years while the Alabama case was being considered.
If a new map is not approved by the deadline, a federal court will proceed with the current civil rights lawsuit, potentially resulting in the court implementing a different district plan. The final map, whether voluntarily changed by the Legislature or determined by the court, must be in place in time for the 2024 Louisiana congressional elections.
The current map was vetoed by outgoing Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards, but the veto was overridden by the Legislature’s Republican majority. It's unclear whether Edwards will call a special session to consider new maps before he leaves office on January 8, or if this will be left to his successor, Republican Gov.-elect Jeff Landry.
The redistricting dispute in Louisiana is part of a larger national debate over gerrymandering and the dilution of minority voting power. The outcome could potentially shift the balance of power in Congress, as a second majority-Black district in Louisiana could likely favor Democrats.