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2mo ago

Supreme Court Hears Louisiana Congressional Map Dispute with Major Voting Rights Implications

The case examines whether Louisiana's redistricting, which created two majority-Black districts, violates the Equal Protection Clause or complies with the Voting Rights Act.

The Supreme Court is pictured, in Washington, D.C., U.S., October 21, 2024.
FILE - A briefcase of a census taker is seen as she knocks on the door of a residence, Aug. 11, 2020, in Winter Park, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)
FILE - The U.S. Supreme Court is seen near sunset in Washington, Oct. 18, 2018. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)
The Supreme Court building in Washington.

Overview

  • The Supreme Court is reviewing whether Louisiana's congressional map constitutes an unconstitutional racial gerrymander or complies with federal voting rights laws.
  • The current map includes two majority-Black districts, a change mandated by courts after the original map with only one such district was ruled discriminatory.
  • Non-Black voters have challenged the revised map, arguing it relied excessively on race, while the state claims political considerations also influenced its design.
  • The case highlights tensions between the Voting Rights Act's minority protections and the Equal Protection Clause's limits on race-based decision-making.
  • A decision, expected by late June 2025, could significantly impact the Voting Rights Act's future and the balance of power in Congress ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.