In controversial landmark ruling: Supreme Court restricts voter rights
FILE PHOTO: Chief Justice John Roberts, Justice Elena Kagan, Justice Brett Kavanaugh, Justice Amy Coney Barrett and retired Justice Anthony Kennedy attend U.S. President Donald Trump's address to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on March 04, 2025 in Washington, DC. Win McNamee/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

The Supreme Court issued a 6-3 decision in Callais v. Louisiana authored by Justice Samuel Alito, narrowing protections under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act while technically leaving it intact.

Politics & Poll Tracker reported the decision.

The case arose from lower-court rulings requiring Louisiana to create a second majority-Black district, which Republicans challenged. The Court acknowledged a compelling interest in helping racial minorities achieve representation but ruled that Louisiana was not required by the Voting Rights Act to draw the additional majority-minority district.

The decision remands the case to lower courts for further review.

The Court declared Louisiana's district map (SB8) an unconstitutional racial gerrymander.

Legal experts anticipate the narrower interpretation of Section 2 will significantly complicate future challenges to racial gerrymanders, effectively weakening voting rights protections despite the statute remaining technically intact.

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