Supreme Court sharply limits use of race in redistricting in a win for Republicans
NBC News • • general
Key Points:
- The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that Louisiana's congressional map was an unconstitutional racial gerrymander, despite being drawn to comply with the Voting Rights Act (VRA), signaling a major limitation on the use of race in redistricting.
- The decision asserts that states can almost never consider race when drawing electoral maps under Section 2 of the VRA, a significant shift from previous assumptions that race could be used to protect minority voters.
- Conservative justices emphasized a "colorblind" constitutional approach and cited social changes and prior rulings allowing partisan gerrymandering, while liberal justices warned the ruling severely undermines minority voting protections.
- Louisiana must redraw its congressional map before the May 16 primary, though the ruling could complicate redistricting efforts nationwide amid ongoing midterm elections.
- Civil rights groups condemned the ruling as a major setback for minority voting rights, with the NAACP calling it a betrayal of Black voters and democracy.
