Understanding the Supreme Court's Voting Rights Act Ruling

There have been lots of articles, opinions, and news shared on the Supreme Court’s latest decision. The problem is most sources are clearly biased towards one side or don’t clearly explain their message. Welcome to the Pulse Brief. We’re going to give you a clear, nonpartisan breakdown of what the Supreme Court’s ruling is, what it means for citizens and voters, and what can be done.

Background

A census is a survey of the population that is held every 10 years. After each census, states gain or lose seats in the House of Representatives based on whether they gained or lost people. So after the 2020 census, Louisiana’s state legislature changed their district maps. Due to a Supreme Court decision, Louisiana was forced to redraw its maps to have two majority-minority districts. A group of voters sued the state because of these maps, saying that they violated the fifteenth and fourteenth amendments. That’s when the case Louisiana v. Callais went to the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court said Louisiana’s redrawn map relied too much on race when the boundaries were drawn. This ruling didn’t get rid of the Voting Rights Act. Though, it did weaken the act and how it can be used. The ruling said that Louisiana could not use the Voting Rights Act to racially redraw districts. This was also applied to other states around the country.

Critics argue that the Supreme Court’s decision decreases representation of minorities in Congress. The decision allows states to remove majority-minority districts through gerrymandering. Gerrymandering is the process of changing electoral district boundaries to give one political party an unfair advantage over another. This ruling could change how the boundaries of electoral districts are drawn in many states, impacting elections in the future.  

Supporters of the ruling argue that this restores the original purpose of the Voting Rights act which was passed in 1965 under president Lyndon B. Johnson. The Voting Rights Act was created in order to get rid of unfair voting practices like poll taxes and literacy tests. Supporters also argue that changing district lines to benefit one party is political and not racial. One reason why Republican politicians want to get rid of majority-minority districts is that they typically vote for Democrats. If majority-minority districts are redrawn to have less minorities, there could be more Republicans elected to the House of Representatives. 

Ultimately, supporters and critics disagree about how this ruling could affect voters. Some argue it will cause an increase in the number of states that are gerrymandering. Others say it will put an end to racial gerrymandering. No matter what side you’re on, gerrymandering of any kind is bad. No matter who does it, it always has the same effect. Gerrymandering decreases the power of people’s vote. If you knew that your vote didn’t count, would you want to vote anymore? I’m guessing the answer is no. Voting is one of the most important parts of civic participation, therefore we should do everything in our power to continue this democratic process.

Whether you live in a Republican state like Texas or a Democratic state like California, you can always act to ensure everyone’s right to vote is protected.

  • Email your local representative, state senator and other politicians in your area to tell them about your concerns
  • Organize a voter registration drive – Voter registration drives are a great way to give back and get more people involved in the political process
  • Vote – When you are eligible to vote it’s important that you register and let your voice be heard