SCOTUS Rules Against Louisiana Redistricting Effort: 'Racial Gerrymander'

The Supreme Court ruled that Louisiana's 2024 congressional map is an "unconstitutional racial gerrymander" in a 6-3 decision on Wednesday. 

The Details: The Louisiana v. Callais ruling struck down the addition of a second majority-black district under Section Two of the Voting Rights Act, which the ruling's dissent argued justified the redistricting on the basis of race. All three liberal justices dissented, calling the ruling a "demolition" of the Act. While conservative Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. said, "Compliance with Section 2 thus could not justify the State's use of race-based redistricting here," District Rep. Cleo Fields (D) argued the ruling will "make it far harder for minority communities to challenge redistricting maps that dilute their political voice."

What Is Section Two?: "No voting qualification or prerequisite to voting or standard, practice, or procedure shall be imposed or applied by any State or political subdivision in a manner which results in a denial or abridgement of the right of any citizen of the United States to vote on account of race or color," the Act states. 

What It Means For Voters: Associated Press (Left bias) said "It is unclear how much is left" of Section Two, while Fox News (Right) asserted the ruling "does not overturn the Voting Rights Act or Section Two." However, The Hill (Center) said, "The decision does not strike down the provision entirely. Justice Samuel Alito cast it as an 'update' to the framework that has governed Voting Rights Act cases for decades, while the liberal justices in dissent called it a 'demolition' of the law." 

Outlets across the political spectrum agreed that future race-based redistricting will narrow, but Associated Press further suggested that the ruling "open[ed] the door for more redistricting across the country that could aid Republican efforts to control the House."

Read about recent redistricting efforts in California, Florida, Texas and Virginia.

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