The Future Of Section 2 Hangs In The Balance As Court Weighs Louisiana’s Remedial Map

During oral arguments concerning the racial composition of Louisiana's voting districts on Wednesday, the conservative majority of the U.S. Supreme Court appeared inclined to weaken a pivotal section of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, designed to combat racial voting discrimination.Justice Brett Kavanaugh remarked that “race-based remedies” addressing historical injustices should have a definitive endpoint, a sentiment echoed by other justices. A ruling deeming Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act unconstitutional could significantly alter the drawing of congressional districts nationwide, impacting minority voter representation.Democratic Rep. Yvette Davis Clarke expressed alarm, asserting that the case jeopardizes crucial protections against electoral discrimination. She warned that a ruling against Section 2 could enable Republicans to secure numerous House seats through gerrymandering.In the case of Louisiana v. Callais, the Court deliberates whether the state’s second majority-Black district constitutes unconstitutional racial gerrymandering, as some plaintiffs contend. The case, ignited by a lawsuit from Black residents post-2020 Census, underscores the ongoing struggle for equitable political representation.