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US Supreme Court Undermines Key Provision Of Voting Rights Act
On April 29, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6-3 decision blocking Louisiana's map that would have created a second Black-majority district, upholding a lower court ruling that the map relied too heavily on race in violation of equal protection. The ruling centers on Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act amid broader redistricting battles ahead of the 2026 elections.
Why It Matters
The decision narrows protections under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act and could influence how race-conscious redistricting is treated in future cases, with potential effects on minority voting power and political mapmaking.
Timeline
4 Events
April 29, 2026: Supreme Court ruling on Louisiana map
April 29, 2026
The Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision authored by Justice Samuel Alito, upheld a lower court's ruling blocking Louisiana's map that would have created a second Black-majority congressional district; the ruling noted that the map relied too heavily on race, with liberal justices dissenting.
October 2025: further arguments
October 2025
The Court heard additional arguments in October 2025 as part of the Louisiana case.
March 2025: first round of arguments
March 2025
The Supreme Court heard arguments in March 2025 in the Louisiana case, but sidestepped a decision and ordered a new round of arguments.
2013 ruling undercuts part of the Voting Rights Act
2013
The article notes that in a 2013 ruling authored by Chief Justice John Roberts, the Court gutted a different part of the Voting Rights Act.