Callais v. Louisiana decision removes long‑standing safeguards against discriminatory maps.
WASHINGTON – Today, the Supreme Court ruled in Callais v. Louisiana, a decision that weakens Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and is expected to impact the 2026 midterms and future elections. On behalf of the Fair Elections Center, which defends, expands, and facilitates voting rights, President & CEO Rebekah Caruthers released the following statement:
“In 1982, Congress strengthened the Voting Rights Act so discriminatory results would be illegal, even without proof of discriminatory intent. The Court’s new ruling treats that legislative decision by Congress as if it never happened, overruling the will of the people’s representatives. Today’s decision doesn’t just change the law—it changes the next decade of elections. This retrograde decision threatens to turn back the clock decades in building Black, Hispanic, AAPI, and Native American representation at every level of government.
“Section 2 has long provided a clear standard for identifying and remedying discriminatory districting. By weakening it, the Court has left voters with fewer protections and given states far more latitude to adopt maps that eviscerate equal representation.
“We must redouble our efforts now to push for broader, bolder protections for the right to vote. States must enact their own Voting Rights Acts, and Congress must pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act.
“Every citizen must register and vote in the primaries and in November. Now is the time to exercise our power and make our voices heard. Together, we can create a government that is reflective of and works for all Americans.”