Eighth Circuit Court Ruling Challenges Private Right to Sue Under Voting Rights Act

Experts predict the case, which currently affects seven states, could reach the Supreme Court and transform voting rights litigation.

The U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act does not explicitly grant a private right of action, meaning individuals or advocacy groups cannot bring a lawsuit for voting rights violations, only the federal government can.
The case in question involves a local NAACP group in Arkansas suing the state over redistricting maps they claim discriminate against Black voters.
Legal experts predict the case will make its way to the Supreme Court, potentially transforming how voting rights are litigated.
The ruling currently only applies to federal courts covered by the Eighth Circuit, which includes Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
The Voting Rights Act has faced numerous legal challenges since its inception in 1965, with the latest ruling being one of the most significant.