The Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA), a cornerstone of the Civil Rights Movement, was enacted to enforce the 14th and 15th Amendments and eliminate racial discrimination in voting. It has been amended five times to strengthen protections. SCOTUS has gradually weakened the act over the last several decades.
The April 29, 2026, decision in Louisiana v. Callais significantly altered how Section 2 is applied. The case centered on whether Louisiana lawmakers relied too heavily on race when redrawing congressional districts to comply with earlier Voting Rights Act findings. The Court struck down the map and ruled that race cannot be the predominant factor in redistricting without a strong justification.
VRA, Section 2
Section 2 used to ban electoral maps and practices that resulted in racial discrimination — even without proof of intent — protecting minority voters’ political representation.
Although the Court did not eliminate Section 2, it effectively narrowed it by raising the bar for legal challenges. Plaintiffs now face greater difficulty proving violations, as courts are more likely to require evidence close to intentional discrimination or to accept partisan explanations for district lines. This shift weakens a key legal tool against racial vote dilution, reducing protections for minority voters and making future challenges to discriminatory maps much harder to win.
Implications
The ruling has broad implications. At least 16 ongoing Section 2 cases across the country—including challenges to congressional, state legislative, and local election maps—could be affected. Critics argue that the decision opens the door to increased partisan gerrymandering that may also reduce minority representation, while supporters contend it limits the improper use of race in districting. Read more about the implications here.
The resources below provide an excellent summary of the Act, the history and modifications over the years, and the potentially dire immediate and long-term consequences of this decision.
Resources
Supreme Court guts Voting Rights Act, greenlights GOP gerrymanders
Voting rights advocates, Dems slam ‘devastating’ SCOTUS ruling gutting Voting Rights Act
The Supreme Court’s Callais decision sets new framework for racial gerrymandering
5 things to know about the Supreme Court’s landmark decision on the Voting Rights Act
Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act at the Supreme Court
The Supreme Court’s Failure to Protect Voting Rights
Brennan Center Reacts to Devastating Louisiana v. Callais Ruling