The US Supreme Court's upcoming decision in the Louisiana v. Callais case could significantly impact the Voting Rights Act, a landmark civil rights law aimed at preventing voting discrimination. The case centers around Louisiana's sixth congressional district, which stretches from Shreveport in the northwest to Baton Rouge in the center. The dispute arose after a successful lawsuit by Black voters challenging the district's racial composition under Section Two of the Voting Rights Act, which prohibits election procedures and practices that discriminate based on race.
The Supreme Court's involvement is crucial as it must decide whether Louisiana's creation of an additional majority-minority district violates the 14th and 15th Amendments, which guarantee equal protection under the law and prohibit race-based voting denial. This question has far-reaching implications, as a ruling that Section Two is unconstitutional would dramatically alter American election law and deprive minority voters of a powerful tool to combat discrimination. Voting rights lawyers have long relied on Section Two to challenge district lines that dilute minority influence, from congressional districts to school boards.
The Court's decision could take several forms: affirming Section Two's constitutionality, striking it down entirely, or making it more challenging to bring Section Two lawsuits while retaining the provision. Louisiana, along with a group of white voters, argues that Section Two is unconstitutional, claiming that race-based redistricting harms voters by sorting them based on skin color. The Trump administration has also filed a brief urging the Court to raise the bar for plaintiffs in Section Two cases.
On the other side are Black voters who filed the original Voting Rights Act suit, leading to Louisiana's current congressional map. They urge the Court to uphold Section Two, emphasizing that its absence would allow jurisdictions to eliminate minority opportunity districts, erode minority representation, and re-segregate legislatures, city councils, and school boards. The case's legal saga began after the 2020 census, when Louisiana Republicans passed a congressional map with only one majority-Black district.
Black voters sued under Section Two in March 2022, arguing for a reasonably configured district in the Baton Rouge area. A district court judge and the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit agreed, ordering a new map. The Supreme Court allowed this map to take effect for the 2024 elections. However, with midterm elections approaching, Louisiana Republicans redrew the map, prioritizing political considerations over the plaintiffs' proposals. The Supreme Court has previously stated that federal courts cannot prevent partisan redistricting.
Despite the new map, a group of white voters sued, claiming it violated the 14th and 15th Amendments. A three-judge panel agreed and struck down the map, leading to the Supreme Court's involvement in the case. The outcome of this case will significantly influence the future of the Voting Rights Act and the protection of minority voters' rights in the United States.
